Chennai: The Tamilnadu Assembly today
unanimously passed a Bbill providing 7.5 per cent quota within the existing reservation in medical UG courses for government school students.
The Bill, moved by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, was passed unanimously by vote and it is applicable for medical, dental, Indian Medicine and Homeopathy courses.
The ‘quota within quota’ covers government seats in private colleges also.
It will be applicable for students clearing the NEET exam.
The Bill seeks to replace the Ordinance promulgated by the government.
It may be recalled that the State Cabinet had on 15 June approved an ordinance, envisaging 7.5 per cent horizontal reservation in the State government’s quota of MBBS/BDS
seats, for students of government schools.
The Cabinet decision was based on a recommendation made by a panel, headed by former Madras High court Judge P Kalaiyarasan.
The panel’s report was submitted to the Chief Minister based on which the Cabinet took a decision. last week.
The committee had observed that there was a ‘cognitive gap’ among students studying in government schools.
The committee suggested that students who had passed the higher secondary exam after having studied for seven consecutive years in government schools be provided the reservation.