New Delhi: In an order having major bearing on Medical and Dental colleges across India, the Supreme Court on October 27 rejected repeated pleas of the Union government to extend the September 30 deadline for fresh admissions to MBBS and BDS courses.

This would mean that those colleges which have not filled the seats available in the MBBS or BDS courses for the academic year 2003-04 by September 30, would not be allowed to take in more students than those already admitted.

A Bench comprising Justice Ruma Pal and Justice P V Reddi said that the deadline of September 30 was fixed by the apex court last year so as to give adequate number of working days to the students to prepare for their studies.

The deadline given in the case pertaining to Medical Council of India vs Madhu Singh so as to maintain the excellence in the Medical and Dental courses which was vital to the health services of the country.

PTI