Case Note & Summary
The dispute concerned admissions to Medical and Dental Colleges in the State of Madhya Pradesh. A Division Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court disposed of a group of writ petitions on 21.8.1993. The High Court concluded that it was not open to the State Government to reduce the minimum qualifying marks in General English in order to make seats available to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates through relaxation. Aggrieved by that decision, the State of Madhya Pradesh filed Special Leave Petitions in this Court in the connected matters, which were numbered as Civil Appeal Nos. 623-624 of 1994 (Rajesh Kumar Verma v. State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors.) and Civil Appeal No. 625 of 1994 (State of M.P. & Anr. v. Chitresh Kasliwal & Anr.). This Court disposed of those appeals on 21.1.1994, allowing them and setting aside the impugned High Court order dated 21.8.1993. The present Civil Appeals were filed by the State of Madhya Pradesh against similar orders passed by the Division Bench in different writ petitions filed by the respondents. The core legal issue was whether the State Government could lawfully reduce the minimum qualifying marks in General English to make seats available to SC/ST candidates. The High Court had answered this in the negative, but the Supreme Court, in its earlier judgment dated 21.1.1994, had taken the contrary view and held that the State Government was entitled to such relaxation. In the present case, the Supreme Court followed its earlier decision and held that all the appeals were to be disposed of in terms of the judgment dated 21.1.1994. The Court, speaking through N.P. Singh, J., noted that the earlier Civil Appeals had been allowed and the impugned High Court order had been set aside. In the present appeals, the Court applied the same reasoning and concluded that the State Government was entitled to reduce the minimum qualifying marks in General English for SC/ST candidates to make seats available in Medical and Dental Colleges. Accordingly, the appeals filed on behalf of the State of Madhya Pradesh were allowed, the orders passed by the High Court were set aside, and no order as to costs was made. The decision reaffirmed the principle that the State Government has the power to relax minimum qualifying marks in a particular subject to give effect to reservation policy and ensure availability of seats for SC/ST candidates in professional courses.
Headnote
A) Education - Admission to Professional Courses - Relaxation of Minimum Qualifying Marks in General English for SC/ST Candidates - Not mentioned - The Madhya Pradesh High Court Division Bench had held that the State Government could not reduce minimum qualifying marks in General English to make seats available to SC/ST candidates; the Supreme Court followed its earlier decisions in Rajesh Kumar Verma v. State of Madhya Pradesh and State of M.P. v. Chitresh Kasliwal and allowed the State appeals, setting aside the High Court orders; Held that the State Government is entitled to reduce the minimum qualifying marks in General English for SC/ST candidates (Paras 1-2).
Issue of Consideration
Whether the State Government is entitled to reduce the minimum qualifying marks in General English in order to make seats available to SC/ST candidates in Medical and Dental Colleges
Final Decision
The appeals filed on behalf of the State of Madhya Pradesh are allowed and the orders passed by the High Court are set aside; no order as to costs.
Law Points
- State Government is entitled to reduce minimum qualifying marks in General English to make seats available to SC/ST candidates
- High Court order set aside in terms of earlier Supreme Court decision
- Precedent applied from Rajesh Kumar Verma and Chitresh Kasliwal cases
