Wed Nov 19 17:20:38 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
A division bench of the High Court of Karnataka delivered a split verdict regarding the legality of the Karnataka Examinations Authority’s (KEA) procedure for allotting MBBS and BDS seats in the third round of counselling. Justice Banerji ruled the provisional allotment list invalid, citing Supreme Court guidelines and National Medical Commission regulations, and ordered a fresh process excluding new registrations for newly added seats. Justice Aravind, however, upheld the KEA’s list, arguing that excluding newly added seats would be discriminatory and contradicts national practices. Due to the divergent views, the matter will be referred to a third judge, halting the counselling process and putting the allotment of around 900 MBBS seats on hold.
News Article:
Karnataka High Court Divided Over Medical Seat Allotments, Counselling Halted
Bengaluru, November 19, 2025 – The future of medical seat allocation in Karnataka hangs in the balance as a divided High Court bench delivered conflicting judgments on the legality of the third round of MBBS and BDS counselling conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA).
The dispute centers around the procedure used by the KEA to allocate seats, particularly those newly added to medical colleges during the counselling process. Justice Jayant Banerji ruled the provisional seat allotment list announced on October 24th invalid, citing violations of Supreme Court directives established in the case of State of UP Vs. Bhavna Tiwari. He argued that the KEA improperly allowed new registrations for the first stage of the third round of counselling for 443 newly available seats, and that these seats should not have been considered for allocation in the third round at all, citing National Medical Commission (NMC) regulations. Justice Banerji ordered the KEA to conduct the third round of counselling afresh, adhering strictly to Supreme Court guidelines and concluding by December 2nd.
However, Justice K.V. Aravind dissented, permitting the KEA to proceed based on the existing provisional allotment list. Justice Aravind argued that excluding the newly added 443 seats would be discriminatory, as similar seat increases have been implemented and admissions made across the country, including through the All India Quota (AIQ). He also pointed out that the NMC itself facilitated these increases during ongoing counselling rounds. Justice Aravind urged the KEA to complete the third round of counselling expeditiously and finalize all remaining rounds by December 10th.
Due to this sharp divergence of opinion, the petitions challenging the KEA’s allotment process will now be heard by a third judge. In the interim, the counselling process has been halted, placing the allotment of approximately 900 MBBS seats, including management quota seats, on hold. The delay is causing significant uncertainty for aspiring medical students. The legal battle, ongoing since October 26th, threatens to disrupt the academic year for many.
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