S.Manikumar, J. - (1.) Instant Writ Petition is filed for a Writ of Declaration, to declare the impugned Clause 6 of Schedule-I of Minimum Qualification for Teachers in Medical Institutions Regulations, 1998 as unconstitutional, ultra vires, discriminatory and illegal, insofar as prescription of upper age limit of 40 years for appointment to the post of Senior Resident, is concerned. Supporting the prayer sought for, petitioner has averred as follows: (i) Petitioners are working as Government Doctors in Tamil Nadu Medical Service, qualified with PG Degree and presently working in Medical College Institutions coming under the Directorate of Medical Education (DME). They have aggrieved against the amendment made in clause 6 of Schedule-1 of 'Minimum Qualification for Teachers in Medical Institutions Regulations, 1998 with effect from 08.06.2017, with reference to prescribing upper age limit of 40 years to be posted as Senior Residents. Since all the Petitioners are similarly placed persons, and aggrieved against the amendment to the relevant clause of Minimum Qualification for Teachers in Medical Institutions Regulations, 1998, they have joined together and filed the Writ Petition for the relief as prayed for. (ii) Petitioners state that as per Section 33 of Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, the Medical Council of India (MCI) may, with the previous sanction of Central Government, make regulations generally to carry out the purposes of the Act. Accordingly, MCI, with previous sanction of Central Government framed regulations called 'Minimum Qualifications for Teachers in Medical Institutions Regulations, 1998' with an object for appointment of Medical Teachers, with minimum qualification and experience in various departments of Medical Colleges and Institutions imparting Graduate and Post Graduate Medical Education which is a necessary requirement to maintain the standard of teaching. Schedule-I to the Regulations relates to minimum qualification for appointment as a teacher in various departments of a Medical College or an Institution imparting Graduate and Post Graduate education. (iii) Insofar as Doctors appointed in Tamil Nadu Medical Services they are governed by the Special Rules for Tamil Nadu Medical Service framed by Government of Tamil Nadu in exercise of powers under Central Act. (iv)As per the special Rules of Tamil Nadu Medical Service, the post of Senior Resident/Assistant Professor comes under Class-I Category 2 and the method of appointment is given as below: JUDGEMENT_88_LAWS(MAD)8_2019_1.html (v) Further, as per Special Rules for Tamil Nadu Medical Service as amended as per G.O.Ms.No.299, Health and Family Welfare Department dated 03.09.2013, the Senior Resident/Assistant Professor is prescribed as follows: Senior Resident/Assistant Professor: Must have obtained the degree of MBBS of any University or Institution recognized by University Grants Commission (UGC) and must have done PG work iii a teaching institution for a period of not less than two years or must possesses a Super Specialty Degree. (vi) Accordingly, as per the Special Rules, a Senior Resident Assistant Professor must be a MBBS degree holder and must have done PG work in teaching institution for a period not less than two years or he must possesses a Super Speciality Degree. Therefore, a Doctor with MBBS qualification in Government service after completing PG Diploma course (2 years) becomes Senior Resident/Assistant Professor. (vii) Petitioners further state that in so far as service under Tamil Nadu Medical Service is concerned, appointment in government service is being made to the post of Assistant Surgeon, entry level post, for being posted in the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine side (DPH). Doctors who acquire PG Diploma qualification, their services are utilized by being posted under the Directorate of Medical Service (DMS) in District and Taluk Headquarters Hospital. Further, rural service is insisted for the Doctors appointed under Tamil Nadu Medical Service on appointment. That apart a minimum period of service is prescribed to become eligible for admission to PG Medical courses as service candidate. As per the Rules, after acquiring the PG degree qualification, a teacher or Senior Resident is re-designated as Assistant Professor in the respective speciality from the date of passing PG degree in the speciality. Therefore, service post graduates, on completion of PG degree are being posted as a Senior Resident/Assistant Professor in DME side in the concerned speciality department, in accordance with the qualification. (viii) All the Petitioners have got admission PG degree courses in the years 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 prior to 08.06.2017, on which date there was no provision in Minimum Qualification for Teachers in Medical Institutions Regulations, 1998 prescribing below 40 years of age for the post of Senior Resident. Accordingly, the petitioners have joined the PG Medical Courses after considerable years of service in Government in DPH and DMS side, to be posted as Senior Resident/Assistant Professor in DME side for their career prospects in teaching line, including promotion to higher post in DME side, after completing the teaching experience in the concerned speciality department as required under the MCI Rules. The fact remains that at the time of joining the PG Medical Course by the Petitioners, there was no age limit prescribed for the post of Senior Resident and therefore the Petitioners was selected for PG degree courses by undergoing the process of selection to become Senior Resident/Assistant Professor on completion of the course, though they crossed the 40 years age limit on the date of completion of the PG course. (ix) While so, MCI has notified amendment to Minimum Qualification for Teachers in Medical Institutions Regulations, 1998 by substituting clause 6 of Schedule with effect from 08.06.2017, by which the Senior Resident (broad specialities) is defined as follows: JUDGEMENT_88_LAWS(MAD)8_2019_3.html (x) Accordingly, as per the provisions of Minimum Qualification for Teachers in Medical Institutions Regulations, 1996, as amended, there is a cap in the age by prescribing upper age as 40 years to be posted, as a Senior Resident. In such event, the Petitioners, though now posted as Senior Resident/Assistant Professor in DME side, would be prejudiced in the event of their services not counted as Senior Resident/Assistant Professor for the purpose of teaching experience and for promotional opportunities. (xi) It is also stated that the fact remains that the Minimum Qualification for Teachers in Medical Institutions Regulations, 1998, as amended, relating to clause 6 prescribing upper age limit for the post of Senior Resident has not been adopted by Government of Tamil Nadu, nor incorporated in the special Rules for Tamil Nadu Medical Services, considering the fact any such application of upper age limit to the post of Senior Resident would be highly prejudicial to the interests of several number of PG qualified Doctors serving in DMS and DPH side for several years, aspiring to be posted as Senior Resident/Assistant Professor in DME side. Further, as per the norms prescribed in Tamil Nadu Medical Service, the Doctors appointed in Government service are initially posted in DPH side or DMS side, more particularly the qualified Doctors being utilized in DMS side in District and Taluk Headquarters Hospital in speciality departments and the Doctors are encouraged to serve in rural/hilly/remote areas by awarding incentive marks for admission to PG Medical courses. In the said circumstances, when the services of the government doctors in the State of Tamil Nadu being utilized in DPH and DMS side on compulsion and further as per Special Rules, entry to the post of Senior Resident/Assistant Professor is from the category of Assistant Surgeon, any restriction of age limit for being posted as Senior Resident/Assistant Professor in DME side would not only be prejudicial to their interest but also affect the entire medial administration In the said circumstances, the Government of Tamil Nadu have forwarded a proposal to the Government or India in letter No.39030/MCA-2/2017-2 dated 27.11.2017 to drop the criteria of age limit of less than 40 years for appointment of Senior Resident by making it clear that it is not suitable to Tamil Nadu Medical Service and it affects the Doctors' basic rights for acquiring Post Graduation and prospects. Further, it is indicated that any such restriction is highly counterproductive to the policy decision of the Government of India, New Delhi, for creating more number of Specialists/ Medical Faculties in India to serve the poor patients, especially when Medical Council of India has relaxed the age limit for faculty in Medical Colleges to 70 years as upper limit. (xii) The Government of Tamil Nadu have forwarded a proposal to Government of India in continuation of the meeting held on 19.07.2017 with a request to drop the relevant clause relating to restriction of age limit for appointment to the post of Senior Resident/Assistant Professor. However, the Government of India have not taken any decision in this regard and the proposal is still pending for consideration. 1.Though the fact remains that the Government of Tamil Nadu have not adopted the age restriction for appointment to the post of Senior Resident and no such age restriction is incorporated in Special Rules for Tamil Nadu Medical Services, considering the fact that of the petitioner's services in DME side in the concerned speciality department ought to have been considered as regular service in teaching experience for their career advancement for further promotion to the post of Associate Professor/Professor, In the above said circumstances, petitioners have challenged the relevant provisions in the Minimum Qualification for Teachers in Medical Institutions Regulations, 1998 prescribing upper age limit for the post of Senior Resident as it remains to be unconstitutional, arbitrary and illegal.
(2.) Xxx xxx xxx
(3.) On the basis of the proceedings in No.V.11012/03/2011-MEP, dated 12.06.2019, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, addressed to the Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Mr.G.Karthikeyan, learned Assistant Solicitor General of India, for Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, submitted that the Ministry has decided to raise the maximum age for appointment of the Senior Resident from 40 years to 45 years. Said proceedings reads thus: JUDGEMENT_88_LAWS(MAD)8_2019_5.html;