DMK president M.K. Stalin. FIle
| Photo Credit: C. Venkatachalapathy
DMK president and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, on Wednesday (July 29, 2026) demanded that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government explain why it had failed to retain 151 super-speciality medical seats in the State, resulting in their transfer to the All India quota.
“It is a vital issue for Tamil Nadu. We have lost 151 super-speciality seats, which otherwise would have produced doctors to serve the State in the future,” he said in a social media post.
Mr. Stalin also questioned why the government had failed to adopt a resolution in the Tamil Nadu Assembly opposing the transfer of 151 super-speciality seats to the All India quota. “Why did the government fail to file an appeal against the Supreme Court’s order dated May 29, 2026?” he asked.
He further questioned why the advocates appointed by the State government had failed to appear in the case and why there had been a delay in engaging a senior advocate.
“Why has there been such a lackadaisical approach to this issue from the very beginning?” he asked. Mr. Stalin also wondered why the State government had “surrendered” despite the case being in Tamil Nadu’s favour and failed to effectively present its arguments before the court.
“Even before the second phase of the All India counselling, the State counselling was conducted and all 151 seats were declared vacant. Was this deliberate?” he asked.
Health Minister reacts
Responding to Mr. Stalin’s criticism, Health Minister K.G. Arunraj said that unlike in previous years, when unfilled super-speciality seats were lost after being surrendered to the All India quota, the TVK government had ensured that if the qualifying cut-off is reduced, 50% of the remaining vacant super-speciality seats will be reverted to Tamil Nadu.
In a statement on X, the Minister said previously, after the completion of the super-speciality counselling, all unfilled seats reserved for service candidates were surrendered to the All India quota. The Union government later reduced the minimum qualifying cut-off marks and filled those seats through the All India merit list. As a result, government doctors from Tamil Nadu were severely affected, he said.
This year, though 151 seats remained vacant, the State government refused to surrender them immediately. It took a firm stand that these seats would be surrendered only if there is an assurance that the qualifying cut-off would not be reduced. Accordingly, the State pursued a legal battle and secured a “historic” judgment from the Supreme Court, he added.
Published – July 29, 2026 02:05 pm IST
