NEET PG 2023: Delhi HC Seeks Response from Centre, NBE on Plea Challenging Zero Cutoff percentile

New Delhi: After the Supreme Court, the Central Government's decision to reduce the qualifying cutoff for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET-PG) examination 2023 to 'Zero' has now been challenged before the Delhi High Court as well.

While considering the plea filed by several doctor candidates, who are protesting against the Government's decision, the Delhi HC bench has not issued a notice in the matter and sought to know the response from the Central Government and the National Board of Examinations (NBE) in this regard.

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav also asked the Medical Counselling Committee to respond to the petition filed by three doctors who appeared in the NEET-PG 2023 examination on March 5 and participated in the counselling, adds PTI.

The MBBS doctors have challenged a September 20 order of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare by which the candidates were informed about the reduction of qualifying percentile for PG courses for NEET-PG 2023 amid the ongoing admission session.

Also Read: NEET PG 2023: SC Refuses to Entertain Plea Challenging 'Zero' Cutoff Percentile

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) offered a major relief to the Postgraduate medical aspirants and reduced the cut-off for qualifying percentile for NEET-PG 2023 to "Zero" across all categories.

"Approval of competent authority is hereby conveyed for reduction of qualifying percentile for NEET-PG 2023 to 'Zero' across all categories. This issues with the approval of competent authority," the Ministry further informed.

Due to this move, all those who appeared for the test will be able to appear in the counselling. The decision has drawn criticism as many feel mediocre medical students will secure seats in specialised postgraduate courses jeopardising public health.

Thereafter, a notice issued by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), Directorate of Health Services stated, "It is for the information to candidates that the qualifying percentile for PG Courses (Medical/Dental) for NEET PG counselling 2023 has been reduced to 'zero' across all categories by MoHFW."

However, this move has now been challenged before the Delhi High Court and the plea, filed through advocate Tanvi Dubey stated, “The candidates were shocked to note that the qualifying percentile has been reduced to zero percentile, that is, minus 40 marks across all categories.”

The petitioners contended the government’s order is erroneous, unsustainable, legally flawed and is liable to be set aside. “By reducing the eligibility criteria to zero percentile, that is, minus 40 marks the very purpose of conducting of the NEET PG exam stands defeated. It also fades away the entire purpose of a ‘National Eligibility cum Entrance test’ if the quotient of ‘eligibility’ itself is diluted. The passing of the impugned order will also mean that the respondents have given importance to seat filing even when the same amounts to sacrificing certain standards,” the plea stated.

IANS adds that the plea further adds that this decision fades away the entire purpose of a 'National Eligibility cum Entrance test' if the quotient of eligibility itself is diluted. The petitioners claim that they submitted a representation to the Union Ministry seeking clarification on the impugned order and requesting its withdrawal, but they received no response.

The plea further states that "the Impugned Order is prejudicial to the candidates who had opted out of the second round of the counselling process as it seeks to operate in retrospect. Candidates had opted out of the Second Round hoping for a better seat in the Mop-Up round that used to be held each year. However, the conversion of seats in the proposed Third round is different and substantially less than the erstwhile Mop-Up Round. As such, the Impugned Order has vitiated the calculated approach of candidates in hindsight."

Earlier, the matter had also been challenged before the Supreme Court, and on September 25, the top court bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud refused to entertain the plea against the reduction of cut off qualifying percentile to zero for counselling.

Dismissing the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a lawyer, who challenged the decision of the Union Health Ministry, the top court bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachid, Justice Manoj Misra and Justice JB Pardiwala observed that the petitioner was not an aspirant and therefore was not affected by the decision.

"You have no locus...absent any interest of the petitioner in this case, the petition is dismissed," observed the CJI.

Also Read: Breaking News: Health Ministry reduces NEET PG 2023 cut-off percentile to ZERO