[Plea Challenging Infinite Delay In Counselling Of NEET MDS] Supreme Court Grants One Week Time To File Affidavit Announcing Schedule

The Supreme Court today directed the Union to file its response to the averments in the plea challenging the unjust and infinite delay caused by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) in announcement of the counselling schedule for NEET-MDS 2021.and said that it expects the Union to announce the dates as to when it would start the counselling.

Bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Hrishikesh Roy said,

“We hope that the Union Govt would be conscious of the consequences as a result of the long delay in completing the counselling.”

The Court pointed out to the fact that there was no sign of online counselling until now irrespective of conducting the exam on December 16, 2020 and declaration of results on December 31, 2020.

“You have to hold the counselling immediately. These are doctors who have done their BDS. They will waste their year if the counselling does not start. Imagine what would be lost to India if they’re not being allowed to wait,” Court further said.

Appearing for the petitioners, Senior Advocate Vikas Singh submitted that, “The exercise can be done virtually. I don't understand why one batch is suffering for a year. I find no justification as to why online counselling cannot take place.”

Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj appearing for the Union submitted that the Madras High Court by order dated October, 2020 had directed the Government to make reservations.

“We’ve formed a committee. We’ve sought for clarification on the Saloni Kumar judgement,” ASG KM Natraj further submitted.

The bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice MR Shah on July 3, 2021 had issued notice while the Court expressed an inclination to the submission that counselling of MBBS and BDS students need not be considered together.

The petitioners in the plea have sought issuance of a Writ in the nature of mandamus, order or Direction of similar nature to the authorities to release the schedule for The NEET-MDS 2021 counselling on an immediate basis and in any event not later than three weeks.

It has been argued in the plea that the petitioners made umpteen efforts to get in touch with the Respondents in order to get an idea about the schedule of the counselling. However, there has been no update about the date of the commencement of the counselling. Because of this delay the Petitioners and similarly placed candidates are surrounded by a cloud of uncertainty and have been under immense mental pressure for the last six months.

Case Title: Debraj Samanta v. Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) And Ors.