SC Directs Counselling And Admission Of Candidate Suffering From Thalassaemia For Medical Seat Under Disability Quota

The Supreme Court, on Friday, directed counselling and admission of a candidate suffering from Thalassaemia, which is a benchmark disability under the provisions of the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

The Court had, last week, directed the Chhattisgarh Government to constitute a Medical Board to examine the candidate. The Bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice M.M. Shantanagoudar was now considering the report submitted by the Medical Board.

The report conclusively submitted that the Petitioner is suffering from Thalassaemia major. The State then informed the Court that it shall admit the candidate in the desired course, if the Medical Council of India does not object.

On being informed of the State’s submission, the Medical Council of India left it to the discretion of the Court to take a decision on the case.

“However, learned senior counsel would submit that the larger issues which have been raised in this petition, are under consideration by the Medical Council of India,” the Bench then noted, directing an affidavit to be filed in this regard within eight weeks.

It thereafter directed, “Having heard learned counsel for the parties, as far as the present petitioner is concerned, she shall be admitted in the M.B.B.S. course, after due counseling within a week hence.”