NEET PG candidates Move Supreme Court Seeking Cancellation of MCC AIQ Round 3

New Delhi: A group of postgraduate medical aspirants has now approached the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of the All India Quota Round III of the National Eligibility-Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET-PG) 2024 exam.

Approaching the top court bench yesterday, petitioners pointed out that Round III of the All-India Quota counselling for NEET-PG (AIQ round) started before the Round II of the State round of counselling concluded in certain states, especially Madhya Pradesh.

They argued that due to the clash in the counselling schedule for AIQ and State Quota since a lot of candidates from the State Quota who were otherwise not eligible to register for AIQ Round III, got a chance to register and block a seat in AIQ Round III when the State Round II counselling opened.

Therefore, these candidates had the option to choose between the best option and leave the AIQ seat if they were getting a better seat in the State round of counseling.  

According to the petitioners, this created grave prejudice to them as they were deprived of the seats that were blocked by the candidates from the States whose Round II did not commence earlier. 

Also Read: NEET PG Aspirants seek justice over delayed MP round 2 counselling, seat allotment issues

"The seats blocked by them were not available to the other candidates including the Petitioners. If the AIQ Round III would have been conducted after the State round II counselling for all states was concluded, a group of candidates would not have gotten an undue advantage of blocking a seat in AIQ Round III and leaving it later while participating in State Round II," the petitioners argued in their plea, while contending that the seats blocked by the candidates from the States, would have been allocated to other meritorious candidates, who would have otherwise got that seat.

The petitioners argued that the act of the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) to conduct the AIQ Round III counselling before the completion of State Round II for all the States is also inconsistent with the schedule of NEET-PG counselling laid down by the Supreme Court in Dr Ashish Ranjan and Others vs Union of India and Others.

Their main grievance was that they were not allowed a fair opportunity to participate in the AIQ Round III of the NEET PG Counselling, which violates their fundamental rights particularly under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.

In a tabular chart, the petitioners pointed out that all the other States except Madhya Pradesh were done with their State Round II counselling before the Result of the AIQ Round III counselling.

Filing the plea, the petitioners have prayed for the following reliefs:

a. Issue directions to MCC to cancel the AIQ Round III of NEET-PG 2024 counselling and direct it to be conducted afresh.

b. Alternatively, issue directions to MCC to conduct a fourth round of counselling for the left over seats which were blocked by the candidates from the states where Round II of State counselling was not concluded

c. Alternatively, issue directions to MCC to provide an option to the candidates who were allotted a seat in the AIQ Round III to register for the stray round of counselling.

Speaking to Medical Dialogues on the issue of NEET PG 2024 Counselling schedule, Brijesh Sutaria, a medical education activist from Maharashtra, said, "The recently concluded AIQ Round 3 of NEET PG counselling has raised serious concerns. Madhya Pradesh State Round 2 was not concluded before the declaration of AIQ Round 3 results, violating a key rule that all state counselling rounds must finish before national rounds. This mismanagement has led to massive seat blockages, depriving deserving candidates of a fair chance at securing their desired branches and institutions."

"Currently, over 75 aspirants have moved the Supreme Court seeking justice. Such recurring issues year after year highlight the systemic failures of MCC, NBEMS, and MoHFW. Students should not be forced into endless court battles due to poorly coordinated processes. I urge the immediate cancellation of AIQ Round 3 and a reconducted, transparent process to restore fairness. It is high time that reforms are implemented to prevent these persistent issues," he added.

Pointing out how students securing good ranks were still deprived of good seats because of the anomalies in the counselling schedule, he added, "Meritorious students should not be deprived by the bad governance."

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that pointing out the undue advantage being given to the NEET PG aspirants in Madhya Pradesh, where people can choose between State Round 2 and AIQ Round 3 seats, a group of NEET PG aspirants from Telangana, Gujarat, Haryana, Bihar and Chhattisgarh recently wrote to the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and urged the Committee to reconduct the All India Counselling Round-3 after the completion of Round-2 counselling of all States or conduct a 4th round. They also urged MCC to give a chance for Upgradation to stray round to all candidates who have been allotted seat till All India Round-3.

Apart from this, the candidates also claimed that there was a huge negative shift in the seat allotment and upgradation of seats and institutes, compared to last year.

Also Read: MP Round 2 counselling not over despite MCC AIQ Round 3 conclusion- NEET PG Candidates claim irregularities in seat allotment