Expeditiously decide on NEET MDS 2024 internship deadline: Supreme Court tells centre

New Delhi: During the hearing of the plea seeking postponement of the NEET MDS 2024 exam, the Union Government informed the Supreme Court bench on Wednesday that it is looking into the grievances of the candidates regarding the extension of the internship deadline.

Considering this submission, the Apex Court bench did not pass any order on the plea seeking to postpone the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for the Master in Dental Surgery course (NEET-MDS) 2024 exam and demanding an extension of the internship completion deadline.

The Apex Court bench directed the authorities to consider the representations submitted within a period of one week and clarified that the bench did not express any opinion on the merits of the case and "...it will be open to the union government to take an appropriate view having regard to the entire facts and circumstances."

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the NEET MDS aspirants have been demanding postponement of the examination for a long time. After getting no positive response from the Government authorities, the students recently sought legal help by filing a plea in this regard before the Supreme Court.

The aspirants have argued that they require more time for adequate preparation. Therefore, they have approached the Apex Court bench with the hope for a favourable resolution from the judiciary ensuring fairness and equal opportunity.

It was argued by the aspirant that the decision to conduct NEET MDS was arbitrary since it was being done without factual ascertainment of the internship completion dates despite the specific direction issued by the Telangana High Court last year. Back in 2023, while considering a plea seeking to reschedule NEET MDS 2023, the Telangana HC bench had directed the authorities to ensure that a uniform cut-off date is set for all the candidates who completed MBBS/BDS course and enough care is taken to ensure that sufficient time is granted to all the students for preparation.

Taking note of these submissions, although the top court bench agreed to consider the matter and issued a notice in this regard as well, it had earlier denied granting any interim relief while observing that it was only a matter of cut-off.

During the last hearing the counsel for the petitioners, Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves, highlighted that while some candidates have completed their internships and registered for NEET MDS 2024, many others could not register due to internship completion dates beyond March 31. He also pointed out the fact that the deadline for submitting applications for NEET MDS ended on February 19.

Also Read: NEET MDS Aspirants move Supreme Court Seeking Postponement

The counsel for the Union Government authorities, Advocate Gaurav Sharma, informed the bench on Wednesday that the entrance examination was scheduled to be held in March to return to a pre-pandemic schedule, which got deeply affected because of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. He submitted, "These entrance examinations for post-graduate courses used to be held in December and January before the pandemic. However, the sessions were delayed for the last four years, and resultantly the examinations were delayed. But now they are trying to bring it back to the original time schedule."

"The union government yesterday sought information from the National Dental Commission on how many students are affected by the cut-off date. The government is looking into this," the Government counsel further added.

As per the latest media report by Live Law, while considering the matter, the Apex Court bench comprising Chief Justice Chandrachud remarked that deciding cut-off dates to determine eligibility to take entrance examinations were "not really in the judicial realm". The bench added, "If the government decides to take a compassionate approach, we will not come in the way. But it is very difficult for us to keep extending cut-offs here and there. We will dispose the matter of and let the union government take a call. It is looking into the matter. The very fact that they have sought data demonstrates that they are concerned about addressing this issue. Otherwise they would have just said, sorry."

However, the counsel for the petitioners, vehemently protested against the Court disposing of the matter and argued that the students belonging to at least seven States would be at risk.

Responding to this, the Apex Court bench suggested asking the Union Government to decide the issue and considering the representations sent by the petitioners expeditiously. Back in 2022, it had allowed the NEET-PG candidates to submit such a representation seeking an extension of the internship deadline for admission to PG medical courses.

The Supreme Court bench issued directions to the Government and the National Dental Commission to consider the matter within one week and noted, "...Mr Gaurav Sharma, appearing on behalf of the National Dental Commission, states that the Union of India is seized of the matter and data has been sought yesterday from the commission. In this context, we may advert to an earlier order passed by this court in February 2022...Since the issue of fixing cut-off dates essentially pertains to the policy domain, it would be appropriate if the petitioners are allowed to submit representations. Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves submits that such representations have already been made submitted to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. We direct that the representations so submitted be dealt with expeditiously and preferably within a period of one week from the date of this matter. We clarify that we have not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case and it will be open to the union government to take an appropriate view having regard to the entire facts and circumstances."