Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 16: Medical students belonging to the open-merit quota at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Medical College and Hospital, Bemina, today held a silent protest against the delay in releasing the Cabinet Sub-Committee report on the reservation policy.
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The students gathered at the hospital campus holding banners demanding transparency and rationalisation in reservation policies. Speaking to reporters, an intern doctor at SKIMS said the protest was aimed at highlighting “the injustice faced by open-merit students” in both undergraduate and postgraduate medical admissions.
“Last year, a sub-committee was formed with the promise of preparing a report within six months to be presented as a bill in the Assembly. A year has passed, but no report has been released, nor has there been any census or information about the progress of the committee,” he said.
The protesters highlighted that open-merit students have been disproportionately affected under the current system. “In undergraduate courses, the 50-50 reservation rule was applied. But in postgraduate courses, only 23-24% of seats go to open-merit candidates. Out of over 550 PG seats, open-merit students could secure only 78 clinical seats last year. We demand rationalisation of reservations based on population percentages. Open-merit candidates make up 70% of the population, yet the system grants 70% reservation to other communities with less than 30% population,” a doctor said.
The students also called for the removal of Rule 17, which they described as “draconian,” the reinstatement of SRO 49 from pre-2019 policies, and proper implementation of bond policies to strengthen the healthcare system.
The protesters said the Government had made similar promises nine months ago, but no positive action has been taken. “We are top students, the cream of society, yet our future seems uncertain. The government must honour its promises and ensure justice for open-merit candidates,” an intern added.
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