Big relief for doctors, SC allows NEET-PG Counselling based on existing EWS/OBC reservation

NEET-PG Admissions 2021-22:The Supreme Court on Friday allowed NEET-PG Counselling for 2021-2022 based on existing EWS/OBC reservation criteria. The apex court has given a green signal to 27 percent reservation for Other Backward Class (OBC) and 10 percent for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category in the All-India Quota (AIQ) seats for the admission process in the NEET as existing criteria this year.

A Bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna said that it has upheld the constitutional validity of 27 percent reservation for Other Backward Class (OBC) for admission in the NEET-PG.

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However, for the EWS category, the Supreme Court said that the 10 percent criteria, which was notified earlier shall continue to operate for this year so that the admissions process shall not be dislocated for the current academic year.

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The Court said that it will hear the matter relating to EWS later and listed it for March 3, 2022, for further hearing. The Court noted that there is an urgent need to commence the process of counselling and therefore it issued some interim direction.

The Court has earlier reserved its order on pleas relating to providing 27 percent reservation for Other Backward Class (OBC) and 10 percent for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category in the All-India Quota (AIQ) seats for the admission in the NEET for all medical seats.

NEET-PG councelling has been on hold as the case was pending before the top court.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the Centre has contended that any revised criteria should be made applicable prospectively and the present counselling and admission should be held as per the existing criteria.

-PTC News