AIIMS asked to fill posts in line with current quota policy

The Health Ministry has asked AIIMS to go ahead with filling 148 posts of super speciality faculty as per the current quota policy even as the government's review petition is pending in the Supreme Court which had disfavoured reservation for such posts.
Responding to a query by the AIIMS, the Ministry has said such appointments would be subject to the outcome of the review petition.
"The Institute may go ahead with the selection process in respect of advertised 148 posts of assistant professors and lecturer in Nursing which will be subject to the outcome of the review petition filed by the Ministry in the SC," a letter from the Ministry to AIIMS Director said.

It noted that the Ministry has filed a review petition before the Supreme Court seeking review of the order of the apex court passed on July 18.
The Supreme Court had ruled that there can be no reservation in appointment for faculty posts in speciality and super speciality courses in medical colleges, including AIIMS.
A five-judge constitutional bench headed by the then Chief Justice Altamas Kabir said it cannot take a contrary view expressed in 1992 by a nine-judge bench in the Indra Sawhney case, also known as the Mandal case, that there could be no compromise with merit at the super speciality stage.

The government had filed a review petition on August 14 and an urgency application before the apex court three days later.