NEET PG Candidates seek permission to appear in Mop-up round: SC to hear plea on March 25

Directing the Government counsels to appear in the court, the bench comprising of Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant also granted liberty to serve the Central Agencies (Medical Counselling Committee, National Board of Examination and Union of India), reports Live Law.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on March 25.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported about the plea where two doctors had wished to appear in the mop-up round of NEET PG counselling. Both these doctors had appeared in the previous rounds of NEET PG 2021 counselling.

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One doctor had joined the DNB Psychiatry course after the Round 1 counselling. However, the doctor was not given an Upgrade in Round 2. In the case of the other doctor, even though the doctor was allotted MS (General Surgery) in Round 1, the doctor joined Pediatrics branch in Round 2.

In their plea, the doctors stated, "That while restricting the candidates an option of upgrade and to apply for the Mop-Up round, the Respondent is taking away the precious right of the meritorious candidates to apply for the Mop-Up round. It is also creating an artificial divide among the candidates who are registering or round 1 and round 2 and the candidates who can register for Mop-Up Round."

Relying on the Information Brochure of INI CET, wherein the candidates could register for the Open Round of seat allocation if the originally allocated seat gets vacated during allocation process, the plea further mentioned, "The petitioner and other similarly placed candidates are grossly aggrieved by the action of the Respondent No. 1 in not allowing the candidates to apply for Mop-Up round in case they are holding a seat of Round-1 or Round-2. By doing so, the Respondent in an unfair manner is restricting the candidates to apply for the Mop-Up round."

As per the latest media report by Live Law, during the hearing of the case, the counsel for one of the doctors, Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde submitted before the court that this year the aspirants were in a peculiar situation.

Advocate for another petitioner, Gopal Sankaranarayanan referred to the notice uploaded by the Director General of Health Services which provided the details for the additional seats being introduced for the Mop Up Round of PG Counselling.

"Who's for the respondents?" the bench asked.

However, as the bench took note of the fact that no one appeared for the respondents, the bench adjourned the matter on March 25 and noted, "Liberty to serve the Central Agency in addition. We request one of the ASG's to appear & assist the court."