Mumbai: A day after the state government sought permission for relaxation in the model code of conduct (MCC) from the Election Commission of India (ECI) to bring an ordinance to provide relief to postgraduate (PG) medical students, the ECI has given the permission for the same, said a senior official on Thursday.
The state will hold a Cabinet meeting on Friday to approve the draft of the ordinance. Maratha students have been protesting at Azad Maidan since last week over admission in PG medical courses. The protesters had met NCP chief Sharad Pawar at the latter’s residence over the same issue on Wednesday night.
Speaking with the Asian Age on Thursday, Maharashtra Minister for medical education and water resources, Girish Mahajan, said, “We have called a cabinet meeting on Friday over an ordinance to resolve the admission of PG medical students at Mantralaya at 12.00 pm.”
Earlier in the week, the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (CET) cell stayed the admission procedure for post-graduate medical courses for seven days. The state had also stated that an application would be made before the Supreme Court to grant the extension till May 31. The procedure as per the rules has to be completed by May 25.
NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik said, “Our president has spoken with chief secretary of the state and urged him to resolve the grievances of these protesting students.”
According to the sources, the ordinance may use the Section 17(1) which says if any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Government may, as occasion arises, by an order published in the Official Gazette, do anything not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, which appears to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of removing the difficulty within two years from the date of commencement of the Act.
The state had already dispatched a letter requesting to the centre to increase 100 medical seats to accommodate these students.
