SHC Upholds MDCAT Criteria, Rejects Calls to Lower Merit for Medical Admissions

SHC MDCAT criteria ruling has reinforced strict merit rules for medical admissions in Sindh. The Sindh High Court stated that only the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council can set admission standards. As a result, the court rejected calls to lower eligibility requirements.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer argued that strict criteria left many seats vacant. He pointed out that students need 55 percent for MBBS and 50 percent for BDS. Therefore, he urged authorities to relax the policy.

Court Backs PMDC Authority

The PMDC’s lawyer defended the current admission policy. He said the council introduced the criteria based on official regulations. In addition, he shared that 14,300 candidates from Sindh met the required marks.
This number exceeds the allocated quota of 4,400 seats. As a result, most public and private college seats are already filled. Only 284 seats in private colleges remain vacant.
The court stressed that the medical field demands high standards. Therefore, it refused to compromise on merit. Judges highlighted that quality education must remain a priority.

Merit Over Vacant Seats Debate

Officials from Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University had suggested lowering the passing marks. They proposed 45 percent for MBBS and 40 percent for BDS admissions. However, the court did not accept this recommendation.
The bench noted that the Sindh government also supported easing the criteria. Even then, the court maintained its position on merit. It added that the Supreme Court had earlier rejected a similar request.
The judges clarified that vacant seats should not justify weaker standards. Instead, authorities should help deserving students secure admission. This approach, they said, will protect the integrity of medical education.