PG Medical Admissions deadline now extended to July 31st: SC on MCI plea

With the court's orders, the deadline for admission to PG medical courses for the academic year 2020-21 has been extended from May 31 to July 31. While the last date to grant a LOP for the establishment of new medical colleges as well as for the renewal of existing institutes and the increase in intake capacity in MBBS seats, has been extended to 31st July, for super-speciality (SS) medical courses, it has been extended to 15th July.

Making these decisions, the bench of honourable Justices RF Nariman, Navin Sinha and BR Gavai noted that the MCI's plea for the extension to complete the required processes was justified in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that with the severe disruptions caused in the workings of the medical education sector, the Medical Council of India had filed not one but three applications with Supreme Court asking for an extension of time of various deadlines relating to medical admissions and course applications.

That came in light of the fact that in view of the nationwide lockdown on account of COVID-19 Pandemic, the Time Schedule for various statutory processes including medical admission process as well as medical colleges applications process prescribed in the Council Regulations could not be followed. Accordingly, the Medical Council of India has filed applications in the Hon'ble Supreme Court praying for:-.

1. Extension of the last date of LOP (Letter of Permission) for MBBS from 31st May 2020 to 31st August 2020 u/s 10A of the IMC Act, 1956 for the Academic Session 2020-21;

2. Extension of the last date for issuance of LOP (Letter of Permission) for Super Specialty Courses u/s 10A of the IMC Act, 1956 for the Academic Year 2020-21 from 31st May 2020 to 15th July 2020.

3. Extension of the last date for admission in Post Graduate Courses (Broad Specialty) from 31.5.2020 to 31.7.2020.

Read also: MCI files 3 applications in Supreme Court on MBBS, PG Medical and SS admissions

Now, considering all the 3 prayers as justified, the Supreme Court allowed the plea by MCI.

"Miscellaneous application stands allowed in terms of prayer (a)"