Supreme Court asks AIIMS to defer INI CET 2021
New Delhi: Noting that the MBBS doctors who seek higher education presently, are serving COVID duties and the fixation of the PG entrance exam date amid this situation is arbitrary, the Supreme Court has directed the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to defer the INI CET 2021 exam, which was scheduled to be held on June 16, by at least a month.
"Considering that many of the candidates intending to appear in the exam are in covid duty and remote areas, we are of the opinion that June 16 date is arbitrary. We direct the exam to be postponed by one month, Needless to say exam can be held anytime after the expiry of one month," the Bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and MR Shah ordered.
The AIIMS has been directed to give an appropriate date for the exam being conducted for admission to postgraduate courses (MD, MS, MDS, DM and MCH courses) in leading Government Medical Institutes in the Country including AIIMS, JIPMER, and NIMHANS. More than 80,000 candidates are set to appear for the examination for around 800 seats.
The Supreme Court was hearing the petitions- one filed by a group of 23 MBBS doctors and another filed by Indian Medical Association, Medical Student Network (Chhattisgarh Chapter) along with 35 serving doctors currently serving in Covid duties challenging the conduct of the INI CET examination on 16th June 2021 and seeking directions for its postponement.
Now, when the matter was taken up today, Senior Advocate Arvind Datar, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that it was a matter affecting the right to life and the right to vocation of the doctors. The Counsel told the bench about the appeal made by the Prime Minister to MBBS doctors to join COVID-duties and the assurance made by him to postpone the NEET exam. The NEET exams scheduled in May were postponed to August too. If that be the case, why can't INI CET be also postponed, Mr Datar asked. He argued, "We have signed bonds with the state government and we can't leave without notice. CA, NCLAT etc are all cancelled or postponed. My suggestion is that it may be conducted with NEET PG, as most students write both exams".
Upon deliberation, Justice Shah asked the counsel of AIIMS, "Why this examination when NEET is postponed".
"Situation in Delhi has improved but in other places figures are high. cant this postponed by a month," asked Justice Banerjee, as quoted by Bar and Bench.
Advocate Dushyant Parashar, appearing for AIIMS, submitted that told the bench that the prospectus was issued in May and the candidates were aware of the exams from May 1. "Staying the exam will create an unprecedented crisis. 1000 doctors will be recruited by this exam. these petitioners can apply in the next September session exam. If the stay is granted there will be no doctors," said Parashar.
The AIIMS counsel also informed the bench that INI CET is held twice a year and if the petitioners have any difficulty in attending the June exams, they can appear for the next exams scheduled in October-November. He said arrangements for exams are ready in across 32 states and the COVID situation has improved in many parts of the country, reports LiveLaw
"These doctors are on COVID duty. How will they appear for exam," Justice Shah demanded.
The bench insisted that the exams should be deferred at least a month's time. Although the AIIMS's counsel sought time till Monday to get instructions, the bench refused, saying it was too close to the date of the exams and ultimately ordered AIIMS to postpone the INI CET 2021 by at least a month given the COVID pandemic situation.
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