A recent order from Supreme Court of India has given some hope to the private unaided medical colleges of Uttar Pradesh whose seats have remained vacant for the NEET PG 2018 Counselling. It has agreed to the suggestions that the vacant post-graduate seats in private unaided medical colleges can be filled up as per the order of merit in the All-India National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET PG) list.
The bench said that they find this suggestion to be most appropriate which will help lessen the grievance of the private medical colleges. This decision will also help open up the new opportunity to the aspiring candidates in the merit list who otherwise could not secure admission in other medical colleges the bench noted in its order.
This decision was taken up by Justices A M Khanwilkar and Indu Malhotra. They were hearing a matter of Uttar Pradesh. During this hearing during the Medical Council of India (MCI) said that almost 41.95 percent of post-graduate medical seats for the academic year 2018-2019 in private unaided medical colleges in the state have remained vacant.
The top court accepted the MCI’s suggestions and asked the Director General of Medical Education of Uttar Pradesh to take immediate steps in this regard while ensuring that the cut-off date of May 31, 2018 was adhered to in its letter and spirit.
The bench has also clearly stated that in the guise of recommending names of candidates to private colleges, the candidate who has already secured admission elsewhere cannot be permitted to resign from the concerned college to avail of the opportunity under the stated dispensation.
A suggestion was made by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Pinky Anand as well. She appeared for the Centre. She said that similar practice can be followed in other states also. if they desire to so. But it has to be ensured that the cutoff date for admission is strictly followed by the official authorities. The cutoff date for filling the vacant seats is May 31, 2018. Previously the cutoff date was May 18, 2018, when the students had to be allotted seats.
ASG and MCI’s counsel has assured the apex court that this order will be immediately published on the official websites of MCI, Medical Counselling Committee and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare also.
