Allied Healthcare (GAHC)

A fresh Allahabad High Court judgment has once again set aflame controversy regarding reservations in higher education. A single-judge bench, in the case of Sabra Ahmad vs Uttar Pradesh, ruled that the four special medical colleges built in Jalaun, Saharanpur, Kannauj, and Ambedkar Nagar under the Scheduled Caste Special Component Plan cannot offer 70 per cent reservation to Scheduled Castes. A division bench of the court later upheld the ruling.

The matter is now before the Supreme Court, which is to rule whether colleges under the Special Component Plan (SCP) fall within the 50 per cent ceiling quota on reservations.

Meanwhile, the high court directive has jeopardized the future of about 100 students. But it has generated a further controversy as other states, including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala, also possess such similar SC/ST reservation special colleges of more than 50 per cent. 

Therefore, this judgment is more politically significant for the BJP as the party is coming towards its current term in office with Yogi Adityanath. The party had already faced a electoral defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on charges of cancelling reservation and weakening the Constitution.

We put forth that the Allahabad High Court erred in suspending the reservation policy of these four colleges by using the 50 per cent limit ceiling formulaistically released in the Indra Sawhney judgment. The aforesaid ruling, however, explicitly sanctioned the breach of the limit ceiling for compelling reasons in pursuit of substantive equality. Unless overturned, the Allahabad High Court decision would have significant consequences for SC welfare policy and polity, with other high courts potentially issuing similar orders.    

The source of constitutional dispute

The state government of Uttar Pradesh established four special medical colleges under the SCP for SCs. The SCP was brought into force in 1979 to put into effect Article 46, which lays down that "the State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and, in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation."

These colleges receive 70 percent of their finances from SCP, so they must reserve 70 percent in the case of SC students. 

This requirement has been disputed in the Allahabad High Court eight years back, and the matter is still pending before a division bench of the court. But the single-judge bench has struck down government orders issued between 2006 and 2015 although they were not prayed for in the petition. While a case is pending before the larger bench, the smaller bench cannot pass an order as it amounts to judicial impropriety. But it directed the government to implement the Uttar Pradesh Reservation Act of 2006 whereby SC reservation is limited to 21 per cent. On 4 September 2025, the division bench of Justices Rajan Roy and Manjive Shukla ordered that the SC students who were already admitted should be shifted to other medical colleges, rendering numerous students uncertain about their academic fate. The court's fundamental misreading

The misuse by the superior court is to consider these special institutions as general educational institutions subject to general schemes of reservation. This mechanical exercise ignores the very constitutional principle of generalia specialibus non derogant, i.e., 'special provisions take precedence over general ones'. The colleges were not established as general institutions to which reservations were appended; they were established as specialized instruments of constitutional justice under Articles 15 and 46.

By adopting a literal interpretation, the court has rendered the transformative intent of these institutions nugatory. This also contradicts Supreme Court rulings, which have maintained that constitutional interpretation must consider legislative intent and constitutional vision as opposed to textual literalism. The high court applied textual literalism.

Constituent Assembly's transformative vision

Constituent Assembly debates document the abiding intent of provisions for the betterment of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. S Nagappa of the Constituent Assembly encapsulated this vision in his proposal that there should be a specialized ministry under the minister from the same community, and the need for tangible plans and schemes, and setting aside 5 per cent of central revenues for such plans and schemes.

S Munniswamy Pillai, another Constituent Assembly member, shared the same vision where he argued that the SC/ST officer should review SC/ST advancement after ten years, and if it is short, then the duration of reservation must be prolonged and not terminated automatically.

This constitutional concept is given concrete shape in Article 46, which mandates that "the State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections". KM Munshi, the great father of fundamental rights, emphasized that Article 46 was the token of the Constitution's promise of social revolution—to transform India from a caste-ridden to an egalitarian democracy. He viewed it not as charity but rather as a constitutional obligation to address past injustices by means of affirmative state action.

The Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given a go-ahead to Phase-III of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) to increase the capacity of government medical colleges and postgraduate institutes in the country, in a major initiative towards upgrading the healthcare system and healthcare education infrastructure in India.

By 2028-29, the scheme will increase the number of undergraduate (MBBS) seats and postgraduate (PG) seats by 5,023 and 5,000 respectively, enhancing availability of qualified doctors and specialists especially in underserved and rural regions.

With a total budget allocation of Rs. 15,034.50 crore for the period 2025-26 to 2028-29, the central government will contribute Rs. 10,303.20 crore and the state government will provide Rs. 4,731.30 crore towards this initiative . The cost ceiling has been improved to Rs. 1.50 crore per seat.

The expanded seats will improve the available government medical colleges and stand alone institutes of postgraduate will enhance the accessibility of quality healthcare, provide regional balance in the allocation of healthcare services, and raise supply of specialist doctors in areas where they are very needed. The plan also helps in introducing new medical specialties in these institutions.

Emphasizing the effect of the scheme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that Phase-III of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme will introduce a lot of PG and UG medical seats. This will advance our medical system and improve medical education facilities. It will guarantee accessibility of skilled doctors in all corners of India.

India boasts of more than 808 medical colleges that are the highest in the world and has an aggregate intake capacity of approximately 1.23 lakh MBBS and above 74,000 PG medical seats. Even though this growth has been quick in the last ten years, several areas are still experiencing shortages of medical professionals, particularly those in rural and remote locations.  

This step of growth is the continuation of successful previous steps which increased the number of MBBS seats up to almost 9,000 and the number of PG seats up to more than 8,000. The government is also working on the quality of medical education and faculty recruitment along with the expansion of seats, and the regulations, which were introduced in 2025.

The project will produce various jobs to doctors, faculty, paramedics, researchers and support staff and will enhance the general health infrastructure of India and lead to socio-economic growth.

As the 1.4 billion citizens of the nation rely on a strong healthcare workforce to have Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the scheme is the right move towards quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare to all Indians.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday announced that the state government, in association with the centre, will establish a new Ayurveda college at Rairangpur of Mayurbhanj district at the cost of Rs 85 crore.

Addressing the state-level National Ayurveda Day 2025 event at Jayadev Bhawan here, the chief minister said his government is initiating several programs to promote Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine in the state.

"Three additional AYUSH hospitals combined with the government-operated ones are coming up in Dhenkanal, Berhampur and Balasore under National AYUSH Mission and there will be a new college at Rairangpur. Apart from the three government-operated Ayurveda colleges," he further said.

While the district headquarters hospital at Kendrapara has a Panchakarma service centre, two more units will be set up at Bargarh and Keonjhar soon. Eight such centres will be set up in other district headquarters hospitals in the current financial year and these steps aim to provide better healthcare facilities in traditional ways, the chief minister said.

Describing Ayurveda as India's valuable contribution to the globe, Majhi supplemented that the motive behind spreading it is not only as a health care system but also as a means to transfer the ancient wisdom, philosophical perception and cultural value for people's health. Such systems are gaining popularity across the globe and the globe is looking towards India for its time-tested wisdom.

Referring to the significance of Ayurveda as a holistic system of health care aimed at balance diet, lifestyle, and natural treatments, the chief minister also reaffirmed further that even though people make heavy use of modern medicine, its side effects and cost consideration have driven people to resort to alternative treatments like Ayurveda.

He also emphasized the importance of health consciousness and embracing yoga as life. "The state government is working hard for the development of Ayurveda education, research and treatment while the Health department has taken all possible steps to make AYUSH accessible to masses in rural and urban sectors," the CM added.

Health minister Mukesh Mahaling told that the department has already provided medical treatment to over 2.3 crore patients in the form of Ayurvedic treatment this year. The chief minister also released a newsletter by the AYUSH directorate at the event.

Medi Media, the two-day National Health Journalism Summit, a joint initiative of Aster Medcity, Ernakulam Press Club, and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Kochi Chapter concluded emphasizing the importance of health reporting and discussing critical issues and the future of the healthcare sector. Kochi Mayor M. Anil Kumar was the chief guest of the concluding session. The summit, which took place at the IMA House in Kaloor, was attended by more than thirty health journalists from different parts of the country. 

The summit evaluated Artificial intelligence can have a major impact on patient treatment and may help reduce treatment costs in the future. However, the summit opined that AI cannot replace the human touch and care provided by healthcare workers. The summit also acknowledged that the exemplary role played by the media during the COVID-19 pandemic is a prime example of the importance of health reporting in the healthcare sector. Such collaborative efforts are highly essential in the future as well.  

Discussions were held on various topics including 'Prescribing the Right Dosage,' 'Second Victim, ethical and legal issues in healthcare reporting,' 'Navigating Grey Zones,' 'Heal in India,' 'Intersection of AI,' and 'Learning from COVID.' Experts from the health, legal, and media sectors from various states across India led the discussions.  

A memory walk called 'Healthy Steps at Marine Drive in connection with World Alzheimer's Day,' was attended by the summit delegates and prominent personalities from the city. After the concluding session, the hospital familiarization visit and houseboat ride was arranged for the delegates by Aster Medcity.

M Anilkumar, Mayor, Kochi, Dr. Shuhaib Kader, COO- Aster Medcity, Dr. Dilip Panikar, Chief of Medical Services, Aster Medcity, 

R.Gopakumar, President, Press Club Ernakulam, M Shajil Kumar, Secretary, Press Club Ernakulam, Dr. Sachin Suresh, Secretary, IMA Kochi, Dr. Junaid Rehman, Medical Director, Sree Sudheendra Medical Mission Hospital, Kochi  spoke during the concluding ceremony

In a first, the Calcutta High Court has permitted a physically disabled student from Malda in West Bengal to study medicine, realizing his dream of becoming a doctor.

Prasanta Mondal, who was affected by polio in his childhood, has just three and a half working fingers on each of his hands. Notwithstanding the handicap, he passed his Higher Secondary exams and cleared the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) with his partially developed fingers. He attained an All India Rank of 1,61,404 and a PwBD category rank of 3,627.

His dreams were put on hold when Kolkata's SSKM Hospital, following a physical evaluation, ruled him ineligible for studying medicine. The hospital report mentioned that he could not grip surgical instruments such as scalpels and scissors, and on this ground, he was refused verification of admission.

Undeterred to abandon the case, Mondal shifted the Calcutta High Court against SSKM's report. A one-man bench headed by Justice Biswajit Basu ordered a second test at AIIMS Mumbai.

The AIIMS panel held that though his health presented difficulties, it would not hinder him from pursuing medicine.

Moving on this report, Justice Basu directed the authorities to grant Mondal's verification and admission under PwBD quota. Mondal's lawyer, advocate Sarwar Jahan, stated that his client's persistence has now been vindicated.

The court also questioned seriously SSKM's evaluations. Referring to an identical case concerning Chandan Majhi of Purulia, who is in a wheelchair and was also found unfit by SSKM but cleared subsequently by a hospital in Delhi, Justice Basu said, "This is not the first time SSKM hospital has rejected clearance where other premier centers like AIIMS or other Delhi hospitals have done so. Why this consistent disparity? Is SSKM hospital superior to all others?"

With this court verdict, Prasanta Mondal, who has an aspiration to become a doctor, can now start his MBBS journey.

Healthcare is not just a career but a calling, an act of self-sacrifice, a voyage of passion, purpose, and a sense of responsibility that extends way beyond a paycheck. The mindset of many Indian healthcare workers, from top doctors to nurses and allied professionals, proves that for them, saving lives comes before personal benefit or material gain.

The Spirit of Indian Doctors

There are many instances in India where doctors put their comfort and even their lives at risk to protect and care for their patients. Recently, Major Simrat Rajdeep Singh, an Army physician, saved a critically ill passenger on an IndiGo flight by resuscitating him and ensuring his safe hospitalization, demonstrating true dedication driven by duty, not fame or money. Another case of a doctor who injected the drip in his foot after passing out in the OT, just to keep the operation going to save his patient. Similarly, AIIMS doctors saved the life of a two-year-old girl in a life-threatening condition during a commercial flight by working together under pressure to ensure her survival. Such instances are indicative of a calling- whereby, a wish to serve and heal takes precedence over self-benefit.

Nurses: Courage Under Crisis

There is no other recent example that describes the calling of healthcare like the viral video of Aditya Hospital of Assam during the September 2025 earthquake. The video of this selfless act is going viral on social media gaining all the praise and applause. The video showed when strong tremors shook the hospital building, CCTV cameras captured two nurses in the NICU immediately covering newborn babies rather than rushing to their own safety or hesitating to stay back.  Their first reflex was saving the babies and not themselves. They were not driven by self-preservation, but rather by the security of the least strong. These courageous nurses are getting all the blessings from across the country, and are being called true Indian nurses. 

Importance of Allied Healthcare Workers

Healthcare is a team effort. The allied professionals, such as physiotherapists, lab technicians, dietitians, and occupational therapists, work both behind the scenes and at the bedside, performing critical roles in patient recovery, chronic care, diagnostics, rehabilitation, and daily support. They also help bridge the gaps in healthcare access in remote and rural areas, providing essential support during emergencies and routine care alike. Their hard work benefits doctors and nurses, enhancing the results and providing the environment of care in which each patient matters.

Best Practices That Establish Healthcare

These examples and stories show that healthcare is indeed more than a profession, it is a calling that is motivated by:

• Compassion and care for patients indifferent to their financial background. 
• A strong sense of responsibility towards the society, particularly during crises.
• A desire to heal, comfort, and empower patients and families.
• Willingness to work long hours, take risks and make sacrifices in the process of serving others.

Healthcare is not just a profession, it is a service-oriented profession built on service, sacrifice, and doing what is right. From the doctors carrying out essential operations beyond the hospital, to the nurses saving lives of unborn during a disaster and the individuals in the profession that assist in the provision of care in the villages and cities, and all the healthcare workers whose stories we don’t know, their spirit is what builds a healthier and more humane society with each passing day.