NEET PG 2021 Counselling: Supreme Court hearing on OBC, EWS Quota Today
New Delhi: Amidst the escalating demands to expedite the NEET PG counseling process, which has been put on hold, the Supreme Court is today going to hear the plea challenging the 27 percent reservation for Other Backward class (OBC) and 10 percent for the EWS category for admission to Postgraduate medical courses in India.
The counseling process PG medical admission through NEET PG was put on hold after the reservation policy that was announced by the Central Government was questioned before the top court.
Even though the counseling in the 50 percent AIQ seats was set to commence from October 25, 2021, after the reservation policy was questioned, MCC had postponed the counseling dates.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Central Government had assured the top court that till the matter concerning EWS quota gets resolved, no NEET PG counseling would be held.
The bench of judges, including Justice DY Chandrachud and BV Nagarathna, had noted Centre's assurance and recorded that if the counseling process starts before the court takes a decision, the "students will be in a serious problem".
Earlier, on 21st October, the court had advised the Centre to revisit the limit of Rs 8 lakh annual income for determining the EWS category for reservation in medical admissions via NEET PG Counselling. Following this, on October 26, the Central Government had justified its decision regarding the matter as well. Further, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in an affidavit had said that the principle of fixing the amount is rational and in keeping with Articles 14, 15, and 16 of the Constitution.
Also Read: Help Expedite NEET PG Counselling: Doctors tell Chief Justice of India
During the recent hearing on the matter held on November 16th, the counsel asked the bench comprising honourable justice Justice Chandrachud, "Can we get a date for the NEET matter? Can it be taken up on 24th?," to which the judge replied, "We'll try to accommodate," the bench had stated.
Meanwhile, the doctors across the country have started urging the concerned authorities to expedite the matter. Already doctors under the umbrella of the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) and Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) have approached the Chief Justice of India and wrote to him urging to expedite the hearing of the pending case. FAIMA had also launched a Twitter Storm supporting the cause and demanding expedition regarding the NEET PG counseling process.
Also Read: Demand to Expedite NEET PG Counselling Escalates, FAIMA writes to CJI
