QUETTA: A two-member bench of the High Court of Balochistan, comprised of Mr. Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Malakhail and Mr. Justice Shaukat Ali Rakhshani, rejected a petition alleging irregularities in the MDCAT tests conducted in Balochistan. The bench dismissed a constitutional petition filed by Palvasha Sherani and others regarding the ‘Medical and Dental College Admission Test’ (MDCAT).
The petitioners argued that the MDCAT did not adhere to guidelines prescribed by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC). They contended that the test, intended to be conducted by the province of Balochistan, was instead administered by the unauthorized institute NUST, leading to alleged cheating through modern electronic devices. The petitioners further claimed that deserving candidates were denied their legal fundamental rights due to administrative lapses and called for the nullification of the test.
Counsel For Petitioners Allege Gross Illegalities In Test
Muhammad Ishaq Nasir Advocate represented the petitioners, while Tahir Ali Baloch Advocate, Additional Advocate General Shaye Haq Baloch, and Sultan Khalid Advocate represented the government. The counsel for the petitioners argued that gross illegalities occurred during the test, including paper leaks and challenging questions beyond the study modules’ scope.
BUMHS Refuted The Allegations
In response, the counsel for Balochistan University of Medical and Health Sciences, Quetta (BUMHS), refuted the allegations, stating that they were unfounded and unproven by evidence. The university claimed that a committee had been formed to investigate the alleged scam, involving only nine students, who did not object to the criteria, question papers, or examination procedure.
Open Seats Be Transferred To Open Merit: Bench Ordered
The BUMHS counsel emphasized that the green book containing leaked questions was only three pages long and action had been taken against the student allegedly involved. They argued that complaints from MDCAT exam failures were invalid, as thousands of students had successfully cleared the exam. The counsel further asserted that the petitioners sought another chance to improve their results and that the admission process was at risk due to frivolous litigation, potentially causing a delay in the next academic session.
After hearing arguments from both parties and carefully examining the records and guiding principles, the Hon’ble Bench ordered that any vacant seats be transferred to the open merit quota if left unoccupied for any reason
