All the students with ICT domicile have finally decided to file a case against the University of Health Sciences (UHS) regarding the newest anticipations for the 2024 MBBS and BDS. This step was taken after ICT students were locked out of the opportunity to apply for Punjab’s open merit seats, which they formerly enjoyed. In this article, the author explores the case’s historical development, law, and possible future.
The Background
Punjab has given students with ICT in the facility many years to compete for open merit MBBS and BDS seats in Punjab’s government medical and dental colleges. However, the new policy for UHS admission for 2024 has blocked ICT students from learning in Punjab’s open merit for IT students but restricted them to Islamabad quotas only.
YouTuber Sardar Umar, infamous for questioning educational policies, gave the debate wings. He has now threatened to file a writ petition in Islamabad High Court (IHC). Umar had earlier protested the policies of the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University; this time, he is mobilizing ICT students for this. He encouraged those affected to join the petition through their domicile and MDCAT admit card through a WhatsApp group.
The Legal Basis of UHS Admission Policy 2024
The admission policy of the UHS is in line with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Admission Regulation Act 2022, Paragraph 17.4 of the Act states:
“The MDCAT results from any one province will be recognised for three years and will be applicable nationwide. There shall also be preference to the students with the domicile of respective Province/ Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad Capital Territory.”
This clause provides the legal basis for the UHS policy regarding domicile preference in medical college admissions. Therefore, Punjab is not wrong to employ this clause under the PMDC Act, which emphasizes Pakistani citizens for its public medical colleges.
Possible Dismissal of the Case
Scholars in law have opined that it is coming from jurisdictions, which is why it has been dismissed. The IHC does not possess jurisdiction over the policies or actions of the Punjab government or its institutions like UHS. In this case, the IHC may lack jurisdiction because since the admission policy concerns Punjab, it could not entertain the matter.
Moreover, the PMDC Act also endorses domicile-based quotas, completely eradicating the basis for the petition. Such regulation is legally strong and almost not likely to face any challenges since Punjab is implementing it.
Analysis of Results and Implication for UHS Aspirants
To all the students aspiring to seek admission at UHS in 2024, the policy below can be asserted as it is anchored in federal law. ICT students, however, have their work cut out for them because the legal provisions and jurisdictions involved tilt the balance more in favour of the current policy. The level of frustration that the petition in the IHC shows may be seen in the following image, though the probability of a positive result seems bleak.
Conclusion
This year’s UHS MBBS and BDS admission policy has raised controversy among ICT students. However, the legal and jurisdictional factors indicate they might not win any challenge. Its occurrence makes one realize how the system of admission based on domicile is not so easy, and it affects students across the nation. There are also some unofficial ways that students can follow to get the necessary information and clarify their situation. At the same time, it is also advised to refer this information to official channels.
