NEET PG Update: Health Ministry Asks SC for Early Hearing; Doctors' Strike Continues

NEET PG Update: Health Ministry Asks SC for Early Hearing; Doctors' Strike Continues

Attention Future Doctors!

The NEET PG Counselling 2021 continues to be deferred as doctors’ strikes continue over EWS and OBC reservation for the AIQ seats. The Union Ministry of Health has likewise requested the Supreme Court to expedite hearing on this matter as the counselling can only begin once a definite decision regarding the same has been made.

All that has Happened Yet

As mentioned above, the centre and the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) came up with a notification that called for a reservation of 27% for the OBC and 10% for the EWS candidates in the All India Quota (AIQ) seats for the NEET 2021 PG counselling.

A plea challenging this decision lies in the Supreme Court. Moreover, the Additional Solicitor General K.M.Nataraj has assured the Supreme Court that the counselling process won’t start until a decision is taken in this regard. Thus, the NEET PG Counselling 2021 that was supposed to start for the 50% seats reserved under AIQ had to be postponed indefinitely from October 25,2021.

In the previous hearing held on October 21, 2021, the Supreme court had asked the Centre if the latter wanted to revise the INR 8 Lakh limit for the annual income that determined whether or not someone belongs to the EWS.

The Centre further clarified its case in an affidavit filed by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment that this amount upholds the principles of Articles 14,15, and 16 of the Constitution.

Reactions by the Medical Fraternity

The medical fraternity has had an overall critical response to this whole fiasco, which is evident from the strike being carried out by them. As of 9th December 2021, the strike has entered its 12th day. Many doctors have joined this protest and in states like Rajasthan, Gujarat and UTs like Delhi, there are also reports of boycott of emergency services.

This strike and delay in the counselling has led to a severe shortage of staff in hospitals and medical centres. Aspirants who’ve given the NEET PG Exam say that such delays have led them to waste an entire year, along with taking up this issue on social media.

Thus, the Health Ministry has called for the Supreme Court to hear this case and make a decision as soon as possible. The new schedule for NEET PG Counselling 2021 will be released only after a decision on this matter by the Supreme Court.