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- SC asked MCI to clarify whether colour blind students can take admission in MBBS courses or not.
- The panel appointed by SC stated that the rule is regressive and needs reconsideration.
- MCI asked the court for some time to reconsider the matter.
Reconsidering the old rules laid down for colour blind people who aspire to become doctors, the Supreme Court asked the Medical Council of India (MCI) to explain whether the colour blind students who have qualified NEET entrance exams with good marks can pursue MBBS courses or not.
The apex court had appointed a panel to recommend whether the rule that bars the students from pursuing medical courses on the basis of colour vision deficiency should be lifted or not. The panel stated that the rule is regressive and needs reconsideration.
The panel also stated that colour blindness is not an unusual problem and does not affect an individual’s abilities to become a skilled doctor.
On Monday, July 31, 2017, the court directed senior advocate Vikas Singh to take instructions from MCI whether colour blind students who have secured high ranks in medical entrance exams can take admission in MBBS programmes or not.
The bench of Justices Dipak Misra and A M Khanwilkar have scheduled a further hearing regarding the same on September 12. The court also added that a report has been submitted by the panel and the MCI must consider it.
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Vikas Singh represented MCI during the court hearing and said that the candidates who have filed the petition have not even appeared for the NEET exam basis which admissions to medical and dental programmes is done. He asked the Court for some time in which the MCI can consider the matter.
Singh further added that there is no colour blindness assessment test for NEET, therefore, candidates can appear for the exam and can apply for any medical course on the basis of their scores.
Senior advocate K V Vishwanathan had been assisting the court and said that no other country, apart from India, denies colour blind students the opportunity to pursue medical courses.
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The panel appointed by the court also comprised various doctors and stated that colour blindness must not stop an individual from taking admission in medical colleges or becoming a doctor once the course is completed.
