In Brief
Private medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh challenged Rule 12(8)(a), which prohibited them from filling seats that became vacant after the mop-up counselling round due to candidates not joining or resigning. The High Court dismissed their petition. The Supreme Court allowed their appeal, holding the rule violated Articles 14 and 19(1)(g). While preventing merit-based manipulation in admissions was a legitimate aim, preventing colleges from filling legitimate vacant seats was an excessive and irrational means to that end, causing financial loss to institutions and wasting medical education resources. The Court found no rational nexus between the restriction and its stated objective.
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