NMC says No to Physical Mode, directs states to arrange online NEET PG Counselling for all rounds including Stray Vacancy Round in Private Medical Colleges

New Delhi: With an aim to put an end to the issue of seat blocking in medical colleges, the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) has clarified that the counselling agencies in the State and the Centre will fill up seats in all medical institutes through online counselling. 

Clarifying that the mode of counselling will be online even for the stray vacany round in Private Medical Colleges from this academic year, NMC PG Board has further mentioned that no college/institute should conduct the counselling, including the stray vacancy round, in physical mode.

Issuing a circular to the Principal Secretary of Health of all States/UTs and the Director of Directorate of Medical Education of all States/ UTs/Medical Counselling Authority, NMC referred to the Supreme Court order issued in this regard last year.

"As per the Orders of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in I.A. No. 132614/2022 in WP(C) 267/2017, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) of DGHS, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare shall conduct Online Counselling for stray vacancy round for 100% seats in Deemed Universities in UG & PG courses," NMC mentioned.

"It will help in tackling the issue of seat blocking & complaints/ court cases related to counselling," added the Commission.

Also Read: New SC Order : DGHS To Do The Counselling For All India Quota Seats

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that while considering the plea by Dar-Us-Slam Educational Trust, the Supreme Court had ordered back in the year 2017 that the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the State Government (or designated authority) will conduct a common counselling to all-India quota and state quota seats respectively.

At that time, the Apex Court bench comprising Justice Dipak Misra and Justice AM Khanwilkar had also ordered that DGHS would be conducting the counseling of deemed university, including those run by religious and linguistic minorities. Having said that the court clarified that Common counselling conducted by the DGHS/State Government will not in any manner affect the rights of minority institutions to admit students of their respective minority community.

Last year, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) sought clarity from the Supreme Court regarding the order issued on 09.05.2017 to the extent that there shall be four rounds of common counselling for AIQ seats conducted by MCC, DGHS which is in congruence with the modified scheme of counselling as laid down in the order dated 16.12. 2021 in SLP no. 10487 of2021 in the matter of Nihila P.P. v. MCC & Ors.

MCC had also sought direction from the court to be allowed to conduct online counselling for stray vacancy round for 100% Deemed Universities in NEET Under Graduate and Post Graduate course.

While considering the matter, the top court had directed that for 100% deemed universities, (i) There shall be four rounds of common counselling for the All India Quota seats conducted by the Medical Counseling Committee; and (ii) The Medical Counseling Committee is permitted to conduct an online counselling for the stray vacancy round.

Although the Apex Court had directed the MCC for conducting online counselling for the stray vacancy round in 100% UG and PG seats in deemed universities, NMC PG Board has issued direction to the State authorities to implement the process in private medical colleges as well.

To view the NMC order, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/neet-pg-online-counselling-214877.pdf

To view the Supreme Court order, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/supreme-court-directions-online-counselling-214879.pdf

Also Read: NEET PG counselling to begin soon, NMC relief on Existing Recognised PG seats for admissions, decides on 1870 applications