Take steps to recover 152 in-service reservation seats for T.N. doctors: DMK MP Wilson

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P. Wilson, DMK MP, briefing the media in Udhagamandalam on Friday. | Photo Credit: SATHYAMOORTHY M.

DMK Rajya Sabha MP, P. Wilson, on Friday criticised the State government for “failing” to contest a writ petition in Supreme Court, that ultimately led to 152 in-service super speciality seats being surrendered to the All India Quota (AIQ).

Mr. Wilson said in-service reservation is for doctors working in government hospitals, which when challenged in Supreme Court in 2021, the DMK government, led by M.K. Stalin had fought for. The court in 2021 had seen the merits presented and had allowed for in-service reservation “to strengthen the health system in Tamil Nadu.” In Tamil Nadu, 215 out of 430 super-speciality seats were reserved for government doctors.

Mr. Wilson told journalists in Udhagamandalam, the Tamil Nadu government had failed to file a representation contesting the writ petition on May 29, 2026, where a student had petitioned for 152 seats that were “in the hands of the State government” to be surrendered to the All India Quota (AIQ). The writ petition, filed in Supreme Court, had sought directions for more than 150 super-speciality seats that remained vacant after multiple rounds of counselling to be allocated to the AIQ.

“But on May 29, the Supreme Court issued a direction on the basis of a writ petition, that the State, which has 152 super-speciality seats, has to surrender it to the All India Quota. This order was passed because there was no representation on the side of the State government and it has not taken any steps to contest this case,” he said.

He said 97 in-service doctors were eligible for the seats, but the State government had failed to appoint a lawyer to make its case when it came up for hearing. “So when we have the requirement in our State, when our own in-service doctors are entitled for these seats, there was no reason why the State did not contest before Supreme Court,” he said, adding if the seats were allocated to the AIQ, that doctors in Ta