Take steps to get 152 reserved seats for TN doctors: DMK MP Wilson

DMK MP P. Wilson briefed the media at Udhagamandalam on Friday. | Photo credit: SATHYAMOORTHY M.

DMK Rajya Sabha MP P Wilson on Friday slammed the state government for “not forgetting” to challenge the plea in the Supreme Court, which eventually led to 152 super special seats in the service being given up to All India Quota (AIQ).

Mr Wilson said the reservation in operation is for doctors working in government hospitals, which, when it was challenged by the Supreme Court in 2021, was fought for by the DMK government led by MK Stalin. In 2021, the court saw the merits presented and allowed reservation in the service “to strengthen the health system in Tamil Nadu”. In Tamil Nadu, 215 of the 430 super-specialty posts were reserved for government doctors.

Mr. Wilson told reporters in Udhagamandalam that the Tamil Nadu government had not filed a representation against the petition on May 29, 2026, where a student had asked for 152 seats that were “in the hands of the state government” to be surrendered to the All India Quota (AIQ). The petition filed in the Supreme Court sought directions for more than 150 super-specialty posts left vacant after several rounds of counseling to be allotted to the AIQ.

“But on May 29, the Supreme Court, on a writ petition, directed that the state, which has 152 super special seats, must surrender it to the All India Quota. This order was passed because there was no representation on the part of the state government and it did not take any steps to challenge the case,” he said.

He said 97 doctors were eligible for the seats but the state government failed to appoint a lawyer to present the case when it came up for hearing. “So when we have a requirement in our state where our own doctors are eligible for these posts, there is no reason why the state should not succeed in the Supreme Court,” he said, adding that if the posts are allotted to AIQ, doctors in Tamil Nadu will face more competition at the national level.

“The state should have stepped in and made sure that 152 seats remain. Suppose you don’t have attending doctors, you can give it to non-service doctors. There are many people interested, non-working doctors, who will sit in the seats and serve the people here,” he added, urging the government to file a review petition so that the seats can be returned to Tamil Nadu.

Published – 05 Jun 2026 21:12 IST