PESHAWAR, Dec 17: A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court on Wednesday dismissed a writ petition challenging admission to medical colleges of the province on seats reserved for backward areas.

The petitioner, Ms Noreen Taj, had challenged the admissions on four seats reserved for backward area of Gadoon Amazai.

The petitioner contended that according to the provincial government policy admission should be given to students who had studied in educational institution of that backward area.

The petitioner also contended that admission should be given to females against the said reserved seats.

The admission committee had given admission to two females and two male students hailing from Gadoon Amazai on merit basis against the four reserved seats.

The bench comprising Justice Nasirul Mulk and Justice Qazi Ahsanullah Qureshi observed that apart from the condition of studying in educational institutions of the said backward area, it should also be seen whether educational facilities were available in those institutions or not.

Advocate Waseemuddin Khattak appeared for the medical colleges and argued that it was the policy of the provincial government to give admission on reserved seats to students who had studied in the backward areas.

However, he added that at the same time it would be seen whether the concerned educational facilities were available in those institutions or not.

He contended that educational facilities were not up to the mark in Gadoon, therefore the government had to give admission to students who had not studied there but they belonged to Gadoon.

About the petitioner’s contention that females should be given preference during admission, Mr Khattak contended that it would be a violation of the constitutional provisions as there should not be any discrimination on the basis of sex.

Barrister Masood Kausar appeared for the petitioner and contended that the respondents had not studied in educational institutions situated in Gadoon Amazai and they were not entitled to admission.