MBBS Internship deadline for NEET PG 2022: SC to hear plea seeking extension on February 8

After taking note of the fact that the Union Health Ministry has postponed NEET PG 2002 exam by 6-8 weeks, the top court bench comprising of Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant listed the plea seeking an extension of MBBS internship deadline for further hearing on Tuesday.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that six MBBS graduates had knocked on the door of the Apex Court seeking postponement of the NEET PG 2022 examination as they pointed out that the exam date was clashing with NEET PG 2021 counselling schedule.

The plea had also referred to the fact that hundreds of MBBS graduates would not be able to appear in the entrance examination, scheduled on March 12, 2022, as their mandatory MBBS internship training will stand incomplete. Apart from seeking postponement of the examination, the medicos had also prayed for an extension of the deadline for completing the internship from May 31.

Several hundred MBBS graduates, whose internship got halted due to their duty in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, would be rendered ineligible from appearing in the NEET-PG test due to lack of mandatory internship duty that too without their fault, the plea said.

Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry intervened yesterday and after taking into account all the representations seeking deferment of the exam, the Ministry postponed the exam by 6-8 weeks. Now, the National Board of Examinations has released the revised schedule for the NEET PG 2022 exam, which will now be held on May 21st, 2022.

Even though the main motto of the plea was served, the petitioners were still seeking the other prayer, i.e. the extension of the internship deadline.

Also Read: NEET PG 2022 Postponed by 6-8 weeks

As per the latest media report by Live Law, when the matter came up for hearing on Friday, the bench pointed out that the exam has already been postponed. "If I'm correct, they have postponed the exam for a period of 6 to 8 weeks," Justice Surya Kant was quoted saying.

Responding to this, the presiding judge of the bench noted, "Yes, even I read it in the afternoon."

At this outset, the counsel for the petitioner students, Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayan submitted that the postponement of the exam only impacted the larger relief sought by the petitioners, and contended that May 31, 2022 was still problematic as the deadline for completing the MBBS internship.

He also referred to the Prime Minister's Statement dated May 3, 2021 and submitted that on the basis of various circulars issued by colleges, several of the final year MBBS candidates had joined as front line workers in COVID duties.

The counsel for the petitioners also brought notice of the court to the fact that the last date for online submission of the application was February 4, 2022.

Responding to this, Justice Chandrachud clarified, "We can always extend the time for registration."

Following this, the bench directed the Additional Solicitor General for taking instructions regarding the reliefs sought in the plea.

Although, at first, the bench expressed its inclination to take up the matter on Monday, but later the matter was listed for Tuesday, i.e. February 8, 2022.