NEET-PG counselling not to commence till Supreme Court decides on OBC, EWS quota: Centre

New Delhi, October 25

The Centre assured the Supreme Court on Monday that the counselling process of NEET-PG will not commence till the top court decides the challenge to 27 per cent reservation for OBC and 10 per cent for EWS category in PG All India Quota seats (MBBS/BDS and MD/MS/MDS) from the current academic session.

A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and BV Nagarathna recorded the assurance given by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) KM Nataraj, appearing for the Centre, and observed that students would be in serious problem if the counselling process went ahead as scheduled.

The assurance by Nataraj was given after senior advocate Arvind Dattar, appearing for some NEET candidates, mentioned that as per the schedule announced by the Director General of Health Services, the counselling process for the NEET-PG is to commence from October 25.

He said that by the time the court decided the pending batch of petitions, challenging the July 29 notification, introducing the reservation from academic year, the entire process of admission would be over and serious prejudice would be caused to the students.

Nataraj said the communication which the counsel for petitioner is referring to was sent only to the medical colleges for verification of seats and one more notification had been issued on Monday.

“The counselling process will not begin till the court decides the pending batch of petitions,” the ASG submitted.

The bench said that it is taking the word on record. 

“We will take your word on record that counselling process will not start till we decide the batch of petitions one way or the other. You know, students will be in serious problem, if the process continues,” the bench said. PTI