Supreme Court Directs Centre to Abide by NEET MDS Counseling Timeline, disposes of petition by aspirants

In an affidavit on Tuesday, the Centre had informed the Supreme Court that the NEET MDS counselling would commence on August 20 and the entire process would be completed within October 10, 2021. Subsequently, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) had released the NEET MDS Counselling schedule.

However, the Court duly addressed the concerns of the counsel appearing for the petitioners that the affidavit submitted by the Centre should be treated as an order of the Apex Court for avoiding any difficulty in the future.

At this outset, the Top court bench comprising of Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice M.R. Shah noted, "We accordingly accept the schedule which has been indicated before the Court in the affidavit filed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and direct compliance so that the process of admissions for the MDS course for 2021-2022 is completed within the timelines indicated."

Also Read: NEET MDS Counselling to Commence on August 20, MCC releases schedule

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that seeking a direction to the Medical Counseling Committee (MCC) to release the NEET MDS counseling dates at the earliest, some of the dentists had moved the Supreme Court.

The doctors, having Bachelor in Dental Surgery (BDS) degree had appeared in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)-MDS conducted on December 16 last year by the National Board of Examination (NBE) for admission to the Master in Dental Surgery (MDS) course.

Around 30,000 BDS (dental) graduates appeared for the NEET-MDS conducted for admission to over 6,500 seats in the country. The results for admissions in PG courses for BDS candidates were also declared on the scheduled date, which is on December 31, 2020. However, after the declaration of the result, i.e., on 31.12.2020.

Seeking a direction upon the MCC for releasing the counseling dates at the earliest for the NEET MDS 2021 the plea filed through lawyer Tanvi Dubey, also sought direction to the MCC to conduct separate counseling for the NEET-MDS 2021.

The matter was heard by the Apex Court thereafter and the Court had earlier slammed the Centre for dilly-dallying the matter which was ultimately resulting in a huge loss for India.

"These are qualified BDS students. Why you have not held the counselling since last year? Can you imagine the loss to India? You are not allowing them the degree by not holding counselling," the Supreme Court bench had earlier observed.

Later, the Union Health Ministry had requested the Supreme Court for allowing them four weeks time for holding the NEET MDS counseling virtually with the existing reservation policy. In fact, the Centre had also informed the top court that the counseling process was not delayed intentionally, but it was actually caused by the pending clarification from the Apex Court regarding OBC reservation in All India Quota seats surrendered by the State medical colleges.

After getting a final instruction from the Supreme Court to release the dates for the counseling within August 11, the MCC had stated in an affidavit dated August 10 that the counseling would commence on August 20 and would be completed within October 10.

During the hearing on Wednesday, the Apex Court bench noted, "An affidavit has been filed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stating that counseling for the MDS admissions for 2021-2022 shall commence on 20 August 2021 and shall be completed by 10 October 2021," adding that the counsel for the Centre has submitted that the Union government will abide by the time schedule which has been set out on the affidavit.

However, the bench took note of the concern of the counsel appearing on the behalf of the petitioners that "this may be treated as an order of the Court to obviate any difficulty in compliance in future."

Addressing this concern, the bench, before the disposing of the petition noted, "We accordingly accept the schedule which has been indicated before the Court in the affidavit filed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and direct compliance so that the process of admissions for the MDS course for 2021-2022 is completed within the time lines indicated."

"Since the grievance of the petitioners has been met, nothing further survives in these proceedings," the bench observed while disposing of the petition.

All the concerned candidates can view the online counseling schedule mentioned below:

Note: For ensuring faithful obedience of time schedule and also keeping in view the limited time available for conducting counseling, all participating institutes/colleges are directed to treat all Saturdays/ Sundays and Gazetted Holidays as working days.

To read the final order, click on the link below.