NEET MDS 2021: Dentists move Supreme Court over delay in MCC counselling process

New Delhi: Seeking a direction to the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) to release counselling dates at the earliest for the NEET MDS 2021 admissions for which exams were held on December 16, last year, 9 dentists have moved the Supreme Court recently.

The dental doctors, having Bachelor in Dental Surgery (BDS) degree, had appeared in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)-MDS conducted on December 16, 2020 by the National Board of Examination (NBE) for admission to the Master in Dental Surgery (MDS) course.

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According to PTI, the plea, filed through lawyer Tanvi Dubey, said that these doctors are challenging the "unjust and infinite delay" caused by MCC in announcing the counselling schedule for NEET-MDS, 2021.

"Issue an appropriate writ, order or direction...to direct the Respondent No.1 (MCC) to release the counselling date at the earliest, but in any event, not later than three weeks," the plea said.

The plea, which may be listed for hearing during the week, also sought a direction to MCC to conduct a separate counselling for the NEET-MDS 2021.

The results for admissions in PG courses for BDS candidates were also declared on the scheduled date, that is on December 31, 2020.

"However, after the declaration of the result, i.e., on 31.12.2020 until today i.e. 23.06.2021, there is no update regarding the counselling. It is most respectfully submitted that umpteen efforts were made by the Petitioners to get in touch with the Respondents in order to get an idea about the schedule of the counselling. However, there has been no update about the date of the commencement of the counselling," the petition said.

"From the past years records, it is clear that the time duration between the NEET-PG examination and announcement of result is at least one (1) month. Further, the counselling schedule for NEET-PG is released three (3) months after the results. Therefore, it will be unrealistic to organise the counselling for both the examinations together, as it would infinitely delay the counselling for the NEET-MDS candidates and would cause undue hardship to the NEET-MDS aspirants," the plea said, as quoted by Bar and Bench

Lawyer Dubey said that these successful BDS degree holders are "surrounded by a cloud of uncertainty and have been under immense mental pressure for the last six months."

Besides MCC, the Centre, Dental Council of India and National Board of Examination (NBE) have also been made parties to the petition.

It said the dentists, who are also registered with state Dental Council, have obtained provisional or permanent registration and have also undergone compulsory rotatory internship of a year in an approved or recognised dental college.

"That around 30,000 BDS (dental) graduates appeared for the NEET-MDS conducted for admission to over 6,500 seats in the country and till date there has been no update for admissions in PG courses," it said.

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