450 Seats Vacant: SC takes serious view of cancellation of AIIMS INI CET counselling

Delhi: In a recent development in the case challenging the cancellation of INI CET PG medical counselling in the institutes of national importance, the Supreme Court has expressed great disappointment after finding that almost 450 seats remain vacant. 

The bench has granted a week's time to file a counter affidavit and thereafter 3 days' time for rejoinder.

A Bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Abhay S. Oka sternly told the Counsel appearing on behalf of AIIMS, "We will take a serious view of this. You have to fill in the seats. Period."

Previously Medical Dialogues reported that through a notice, AIIMS had informed about regarding the further counselling process for INI-CET for admission in MD/MS/DM(06yrs)/M.Ch(06yrs)MDS courses for AIIMS New Delhi & 11 other INIs.

This decision came as a huge shock for the residents who were eager to join the Institutes of National Importance. 

The upset doctors had approached the Supreme Court seeking relief. Apart from this, referring to the notice issued by AIIMS New Delhi, the doctors under the umbrella of Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) had also written to the AIIMS director and pointed out more than 50% vacant seats in multiple departments of various institutes.

Sr. Adv. Gopal Sankaranarayanan appearing on behalf of the petitioners argued that Argues that the candidates leave no stones unturned to prepare themselves for the competitive exams and they should not call victim to a system due to the lack of apathy of the administrative authorities, reports LiveLaw.

He stated, "This is becoming an annual affair where students spend a better part of their life in preparation, because of the complete administrative apathy, your lordships' courts are beseeched by these applications. I don't understand why they cannot sort it out."

He further stated that though the results for the INI-CET exam was declared on 14th May, 2022, it took about three months for AIIMS to initiate the first round of counselling and it was held on 5th August 2022, the second round took place on 27th August and 31st August consecutively. The petitioner submitted that as per the direction of the Supreme Court a particular time schedule was prepared and approved by the erstwhile Medical Council of India.

As per the schedule the institute was supposed to fill up the stray vacancies on 31st August; However on 1st September 2022 AIMS applied for extension of the counselling period which got rejected as AIIMS failed to rationalise and explain the circumstances in the proper manner, reports the daily. Afterwards plea was filled and the Court was informed that out of the 919 most coveted medical PG seats in the country, only 182 has been filled yet. 

After considering the submission of both the parties, Justice kaul sought the information regarding the seats that are still lying vacant from AIIMS counsel. The counsel informed the court that almost 450 seats are yet vacant which are supposed to be carried forward for the next year. Shocked and disappointed at the number, the judge stated, "How can you not fill vacancies?"

The counsel for AIIMS tried to explain that NEET has a different timeline then AIIMS counselling which happens twice in a year and the next one is supposed to take place on 13th November. Finishing the response to be insufficient, "How does it answer our question? Once the seats are available why are they not being filled."

Justice Oka, on the other hand, asked about the delay in initiating the whole counselling process to which the counsel for AIIMS answered that two round had already taken place, the open rounds and on spot rounds are to take place. The entire software for the exam had to be changed this time and the mechanism was changed accordingly. As there are 12 AIIMS and all had to be taken on board, it became a time consuming affair.

However, the bench pointed out that especially in case of vacancies, authorities must make provisions to fill up the seats. The counsel assured the bench that no seat will go wasted as it will be carried forward. At this justice Oka pointed out at the hardships that the candidates will be forced to go through and stated that "But, candidates have to take up the exam again, compete again."

Mr. Sankaranarayanan submitted it is high time for the court to frame some guidelines for medical admissions taking suo moto cognizance of the matter.