Srinagar – Doctors in Srinagar have raised concerns over the significant reduction in Open Merit (OM) postgraduate medical seats and have called on authorities to ensure fairness in postgraduate admissions. Protests took place at the Government Medical College (GMC) campus, where doctors criticized Rule 17 of the reservation policy, labeling it as "draconian and unique to Jammu and Kashmir," according to a report by Daily Excelsior.

Key Issues Raised by Protesters

1. Merit-Based Selection:
   The protesting doctors emphasized that during their MBBS studies, all students access identical resources, such as books, faculty, and libraries. They argued that NEET PG, the entrance exam for specialty courses, should prioritize merit to ensure that the most deserving candidates are selected.

2. Reservation Policy Amendments:

   • SRO 49 (January 30, 2018): Allocated 75% of seats to the Open Merit category.
   • SO 176 (March 15, 2024) and SO 305 (May 21, 2024): Reduced Open Merit seats to 40%.
   • After applying Horizontal Reservation and Rule 17, the actual quota for OM seats dropped below 30%.
   • In NEET PG 2024, out of 293 total seats, only 78–80 unreserved candidates secured seats, comprising a mere 27%.

3. Rule 17 Controversy:
   Protesters argued that Rule 17 allows reserved category candidates who secure open merit seats to claim additional reserved seats when upgrading to higher specialties. Vacated OM seats are then reallocated to the reserved pool, creating an imbalance and undermining merit-based admissions.

4. Bond System Demand:
   The doctors called for implementing a three-year bond system for PG and DM courses, similar to practices in other states, to promote equitable service provision.

5. EWS Seats Misallocation:
   Of 28 EWS seats, only seven were filled, while the remaining 21, originally intended for OM candidates, were reallocated to the reserved category.

Concerns and Frustrations

Protesters described the reduction in Open Merit seats as a severe blow to merit-based admissions, causing anxiety and dissatisfaction among unreserved candidates. A doctor, Saqib, pointed out that unreserved candidates view these changes as unfair and detrimental to their opportunities.

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The protesting doctors urged the authorities to review and amend the reservation policies to ensure a balanced and merit-driven selection process for postgraduate medical admissions.