The vacation bench of the Bombay high court on Tuesday asked the state government if it was willing to withdraw its circular of April 4 announcing closure of 242 seats in the post-graduate (PG) medical courses.

Peoples Health Organisation, an NGO, in a PIL had directed the courts attention to the decreasing number of seats. The state government had accepted that there was a decrease, but it was taking corrective measures. However, it was waiting for the nod of the Medical Council of India (MCI). MCI said it was reviewing the courses.

The state said it sought MCIs permission to approve of the PG medical courses recognised only by the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC). Petitionerss counsel Sanjay Jain said if MMC-reconised  courses were reopened, 242 seats would be created. The court said if the government did not arrive at a decision, it would pass its orders irrespective of the governments stand.