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Amid the rising Coronavirus cases, a plea has been moved before Supreme Court challenging the conduct of the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) PG 2021 scheduled for April 18, 2021.

It is argued that the conduct of NEET examination may lead to a Covid "super spreader event".

"... a superspreader event is where more than 30 people are gathered irrespective of symptomatic condition of the person. Such a superspreader event increases the chances of Covid19 transmission. NEET-PG will result in such a superspreader event taking place and may result into thousands of young doctors becoming victims of COVI19"
- excerpt of plea

A Doctor, Fasrulla Shafi has preferred the present plea through Advocate on Record Pallavi Pratap stating that the conduct of the same is in "utter disregard of the prevailing COVID circumstances and in a way pressurising graduate doctors on a PAN India level to sit for the examination on April 18, 2021 even though CBSE Exams for Grade 10 and 12 have been postponed".

The plea is expected to be listed tomorrow.

It is stated that the conduct of the examination is not in public interest as in view of the present spike on COVID19 cases and non-availability of doctors, beds in hospitals coupled with the fact that there is a dearth of COVID19 vaccination.

Plea has made reference to the notification dated 9th April, 2021 issued by the National Board of examination which comes under the purview of State under Article 12 of the Constitution of India and also under the control of Ministry of Human Resource and Development along with MCI which lays down safeguards and guidelines to be adhered to for conduct of the exams.

In this context, the petitioner has stated that one of the conditions raised issuance of Covid e-pass to facilitate movement of candidate in case of travel-restrictions.

"It has been mentioned that candidates who have opted for the examination but they are unwell due to covid or related symptoms, those candidates should refrain from coming to the test centres as they won't be allowed for the examination. This clause 8 is in utter disregard of public interest and is in clear infringement of Article 14 of the Constitution as the candidates who have filled the form but test positive thereafter are not allowed to sit in the examination.... This condition is like a negative covenant whereby a sick candidate is penalised for being COVID positive after filling up the form and issuance of admit card"
- Excerpt of Plea

Further to this, the petitioner has averred that there are partial lockdowns in different states and travel restrictions continue to ensue, coupled with the fact that SOP's for conduct of examination does not make a negative RTPCR report mandatory for taking the examination.

"Such non-mention is actually resulting in endangering the life of thousands of doctors who are frontline workers in different hospitals which is a clear negation of Article 21 of the Constitution," the plea reads.

In light of the above, the petitioner, apart from postponement of the NEET PG examination 2021 has also sought the striking down of the notification dated April 9.