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A Supreme Court bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant and Bela Trivedi today dismissed a plea moved by NEET PG aspirants seeking extension of deadlines for completion of internship beyond July 31, 2022 on the ground that their internships commenced late owing to compulsory Covid-19 duty.

Court while dismissing the plea noted, “Though there will be undoubtably an element of hardship, it would not be possible at this stage to disrupt the education of a large body of students.”

Court noted that the clause 4.4 of the bulletin issued by the National Board of Examination (NBE) stipulated that the eligibility criteria for admission to NEET PG is that the internship completion certificate will have to be submitted at the time of the counselling and that the cut off date to complete internship was 31st May 2022.

Court further took note of the fact that on February 8, 2022, Court had permitted the students to make a representation before the relevant authorities.

Court noted that the NBE, after considering the representation made by the aspirants, extended the cut off date till July 31, 2022 by a notification date February 16, 2022.

Court, however, took note of the fact that despite the extension of the cut-off date, some students were unable to complete their internship as it began belatedly due to the central government asking the institutions to deploy students for COVID duty.

Court while dismissing the petition remarked, “Whenever there is a cut off date, some students are likely to fall on either side of the dividing line.”

Therefore, stressing that any extension of the cut-off date would result in disrupting the academic schedule, Court further refused to entertain the alternate prayer made in the plea and remarked, “The alternate prayer of the petitioners to include COVID duties as internship will involve the court micro managing the curriculum.”

Case title: Shikar Vs National Board of Examination