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Synopsis

The Supreme Court of India has refused to entertain the petition filed by doctors who have completed their post-graduate education in medicine challenging the arbitrary and irrational decision of indefinitely postponing the NEET Super Specialty Examination 2024.

A CJI DY Chandrachud led bench has held the National Medical Commission's decision to be equitable.

The impugned decision was taken by National Medical Commission in a meeting held on 21 February, 2024.

The top court's bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra had last month issued notice in the plea.

NMC has given a reason for postponement saying due to Covid-19, the MD/MS and DNB courses (NEET-PG courses) for 2021 were held only from January to May 2022 and consequently, the NEET-PG 2021 candidates would not be eligible to appear for the NEET-SS Examination held in 2024.

Court was told today that the NMC's decision is in the teeth of the top Court’s judgment in Ashish Ranjan vs. Union of India, (2016) wherein Court had approved the schedule for completion of admission to Super Specialty Courses as placed before it by the Central Government.

According to this schedule, the NEET-SS examination was to be held by 10th of July of every year and the entire process was to be completed by 31st of August of every year.

"Respondent No.3 is disrupting the academic year in order to accommodate a single batch of candidates, to the detriment of all other candidates who have completed their PG Courses. If the NEET-SS Examination, 2024 is postponed, candidates such as the Petitioners who have completed their PG Courses, who have been preparing for the test by quitting their jobs and not taking new assignments, will lose one entire year...", the petition states.

It is the petitioners' case that the abrupt decision to postpone the NEET-SS Examination, 2024 without adequate notice or justification is also in violation of the principles of natural justice and causes undue stress and uncertainty for candidates who have made significant personal and professional sacrifices in preparation for the examination.

"..said decision for postponement of the NEET-SS Examination, 2024 is arbitrary and irrational and will ultimately result in perpetuation of the anomaly caused due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.....The impugned postponement disrupts the established admission schedule being followed, which is essential for maintaining a predictable and transparent academic calendar, crucial for both candidates and educational institutions....", the plea adds.

Advocate Rashmi Nandakumar appeared for the petitioners.

Case Title: DR. RAHUL BALWAN & ORS. vs. UNION OF INDIA & ORS.