Supreme Court on Monday, December 13 has dismissed to entertain a Plea that seeks 1:5 seat to candidate ratio to be executed for NEET PG admissions. The NEET Postgraduate Counselling 2021 has been delayed for all candidates and is scheduled to begin only begin after Supreme Court’s order.
The petition refers its argument to the case of Anand S Biji vs the State of Kerala, which mentions that a total of 5 times of the number of seats available for allotment or all qualified candidates whichever is less, will be given chance to participate in online counselling (allotment process).
The writ petition sought to direct Medical Counselling Committee(MCC) to follow this ratio during the NEET PG Counselling 2021. A bench compromising of Justice DY Chandrachund and AS Bopanna suggested that the petitioner move to the concerned High Court. Following this, Dr. Charu Mathur, the petitioners’ counsel. Sought liberty to withdraw the petition to approach the High Court. Accordingly, the petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution was withdrawn and liberty was granted to the petitioners to approach the High Court Article 226 of the constitution.
Connection with the AIQ disputes:
NEET PG Counselling 2021 petition seeking this 1:5 seat to candidate ratio alleges that the Center has not worked along this condition imposed in the mentioned case of Anand S Biji. It further alleges that the information bulletin for NEET PG doesn’t mention the ratio details important for counselling.
The matter also has a connection with the dispute of EWS, OBC reservation in All India Quota(AIQ) seats in MCC counselling. NEET PG Counselling 2021 has been put on hold as the Supreme Court has been trying to seek a solution to the AIQ matter whose court proceedings shall start from January 6. It has issued the new income criteria of Rs. 8 lakh for determining the eligibility of Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidates.
NEET PG Counselling 2021 matter has been drawing a lot of attention even on social media. While some groups are raising their voice against the EWS, OBC reservation in AIQ, others are expressing their disappointment on the delay in counselling and are demanding that it should be started soon.
Conclusion: Supreme Court refused to entertain a plea seeking 1:5 seat to candidate ratio. A bench of judges further suggested moving the matter to the concerned High Cout. The counselling for PG NEET 2021 has been postponed due to AIQ dispute and shall only begin after SC’s order.