NEET PG Counselling 2021 Live Updates: Supreme Court allows NEET Counselling with EWS, OBC quota to begin

The Supreme Court allows resumption of NEET PG, UG 2021 counselling. The NEET PG schedule will be soon released at mcc.nic.in.

Read | SC allows resumption of NEET PG, UG 2021 counselling; schedule soon at mcc.nic.in

During the two consecutive day hearing which started on Wednesday, the Centre had told the apex court that the introduction of OBC and EWS reservations after the issuance of NEET-PG exam notification does not amount to "changing the rules of the game" midway. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, had submitted that the submission of petitioners that OBC reservation is unconstitutional is legally unsustainable.

The last notice released by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) was for candidates who want to convert their nationality from Indian to NRI. This year the NEET UG, PG Counselling will be different as the MCC will be conducting four rounds of counselling for All India Quota (AIQ) seats. The vacant seats will not go back to the state quota after the second round of counselling, the MCC notice read.

The official website of the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) still says "NEET PG Counselling 2021 has been postponed till further orders". However, the MCC is soon expected to announce the NEET PG 2021 Counselling schedule and NEET UG Counselling dates. The Supreme Court allowed the resumption of counselling for NEET-PG 2021 as per the existing reservation policy, including 27% for OBC and 10% for EWS.

The Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA), which had organised protests and strikes in December against the delays in NEET PG counselling 2021 said that it welcomes the judgment of the Supreme Court of India.

Read | NEET PG Counselling 2021: ‘Hard work pays off’, say doctors in response to Supreme Court verdict

#FORDA welcomes the judgement of Hon’ble #SupremeCourt of India pronounced today in the matter concerning #NEETPGCounselling2021 @PMOIndia @MoHFW_INDIA @MSJEGOI @ANI @LiveLawIndia @barandbench @MirrorNow @IndiaAheadNews @IndiaToday pic.twitter.com/eTefwdQ7Lm

— FORDA INDIA (@FordaIndia) January 7, 2022

The Supreme Court has allowed the resumption of NEET PG Counselling as per the existing 10% EWS, 27% OBC quota. Resident doctors associations have welcomes the Supreme Court judgment on NEET PG 2021. However, a section of students were unhappy with the verdict. #neetpg2021counselling is trending on social media.

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) will start the NEET PG 2021 counselling soon in an online mode at mcc.nic.in. As per NEET PG Counselling latest news, the Supreme Court today allowed the resumption of counselling for NEET-PG 2021 as per the existing reservation policy, including 27% for OBC and 10% for EWS.

JA Jayalal, National President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) said, "Omicron is fast spreading. Soon it will reach the maximum. Let us be more cautious. We need manpower also apart from infrastructure.Let the SC,come out with  judgement on NEET PG counselling and expedite the admission on war footing.We are running short of time in this crucial battle."

We thank SC for clearing PG counselling .It is unfortunate for this young doctors had to strive vociferously for 4 months on the streets and succumb to police brutality . Hope the Ministry will expedite the admission process and enable the classes to be started with in two weeks.

— Prof. Dr. J.A. Jayalal (@jayalal10) January 7, 2022

NEET Counselling 2021 is expected to begin soon as the Supreme Court has given its approval to start the NEET PG and NEET UG Counselling 2021 as per the existing EWS, OBC quota. NEET UG Counselling 2021 dates also are expected to be released soon on Medical Counselling Committee’s official website mcc.nic.in. Candidates have to keep the following documents ready before the NEET PG Counselling begins.

NEET 2021 admit card.

NEET 2021 scorecard with rank.

Class 10 and 12 marksheet.

ID proof - Aadhaar card, PAN card, Driving License etc.

Coloured passport sized photographs.

Caste certificate and PwD certificate, if applicable

A medical aspirant said, "All the resident doctors are very happy about the start of counselling. What about the reservation of 65%." "Supreme Court allows NEET PG Counselling 2021 with the existing OBC and EWS quota. Fine ...but the case in court was regarding the quota itself... So from Oct to Jan the Supreme Court did nothing except validating the process that could have started from October itself," another aspirant wrote on Twitter.

#SupremeCourt allows NEET PG & UG counselling this year with 27% OBC and 10% EWS reservation with criteria as notified by the govt earlier. 8 lakh limit for EWS to continue as usual.
Earning 8 lakhs p.a. is taxable at 15% at the same time they are economically weaker how?

— Dhruv Pasari (@pasari_dhruv) January 7, 2022

Welcoming the Supreme Court's judgment, AIIMS Doctors Unity said, "Congratulations to all, NEET PG Counselling will start with 27% OBC and 10% EWS Quota from this year onwards. Big win for doctors struggle. It’s a victory of all those who believe in equality and justice." 

Congratulations to all, NEET PG Counselling will start with 27% OBC & 10 % EWS Quota from this year onwards. Big win for doctors struggle. It’s a victory of all those who believes in equality & justice.

Long Live Doctors Unity !#NeetPGcounselling2021 #WeWon #DoctorsUnity

— AIIMS Doctors Unity (@AiimsU) January 7, 2022

After the Supreme Court judgment, FAIMA doctors association urged the government to release NEET UG, PG Counselling schedule immediately. "Counselling cannot be delayed further as we may be reaching the peak in less than a month, and shall require adequate manpower to handle a huge number of cases in the country," FAIMA doctors association said.

Supreme Court allows NEET PG Counselling with 27% OBC and 10 % EWS criteria, as was already notified by the government. An aspirant asks, "So what was the reason of delaying the decision. Delay in decision not only affected the Residents, PG aspirants, but also affected the current Intern batch."

#SupremeCourt allows NEET PG Counselling with 27% OBC & 10 % EWS criteria , as was already notified by govt earlier. So what was the reason of delaying the decision.
Delay in decision not only affected the Residents, PG Aspirants, but also affected the current Intern batch.

— Kena Gandhi (@KenaGandhi) January 7, 2022

An aspirant said, "I'm speechless. Today is the BLACK DAY for all general category medical students.!we've been screwing our minds since couple of months regarding Supreme Court case results...and nothing meaningful happened! How can SC be so foolish!!!"

I'm speechless. Today is the BLACK DAY for all general category medical students.!we've been screwing our minds since couple of mnths regarding Supreme Court case results...and nothing meaningful happened! How can SC be so foolish!!!? #neetpgcounselling

— Jahanvi Patel (@Jahanvi74850481) January 7, 2022

The Kerala High Court today dismissed a plea moved by MBBS graduates challenging a circular issued by the State government increasing reservation for the socially and economically backward classes (SEBC) from 9% to 27% in medical postgraduate courses, as per the Live Law report.

NEET PG counselling 2021 and NEET UG counselling 2021 can now commence as per the existing reservation policy, including 27% for OBC and 10% for EWS, the Supreme Court said.

NEET Counselling Update: Doctors are reacting with relief to the Supreme Court's judgment allowing NEET counselling for UG and PG for central quota seats to commence.  Dr Rakesh Bagdi, president of FAIMA, thanked all RDAs, administrations and the government. 

*SC allows resumption of NEET-PG medical counselling process for admissions to 2021-22 academic session with 27% OBC and 10% EWS quota, as per existing criteria. Thanks all rda , resident , adminstration , media and govt to listening our plea @rda_rml @rdalhmc @FAIMA_INDIA_ pic.twitter.com/GJUApFDCSz

— Dr Rakesh Bagdi (@dr_rakeshbagdi) January 7, 2022

UG, PG NEET News: With the Supreme Court allowing NEET UG, PG counselling to start for 2021, the process can start. However, it will be different this year with four rounds of AIQ counselling instead of two and seats vacant after round 2 will not go back to the state quota. 

With the OBC quota upheld and EWS allowed for this year, NEET UG, PG counselling dates can finally be announced. The Resident Doctors' Association of RML Hospital issued a "letter of thanks" for all those who fought and protested against delay in counselling. 

We thanks everyone who were part of this Fight for Justice! @ANI @PTI_News @ians_india @aajtak @ndtv @MirrorNow pic.twitter.com/KHjED3a5hU

— RDA RML Official (@rda_rml) January 7, 2022

"Hard work pays off," wrote the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) of Amritsar on social media after the SC upheld  the 27% OBC quota, allowed EWS for this year and greenlit NEET PG counselling 2021. 

Our hardwork pays off. Thank you @FordaIndia and all other state RDAs for putting pressure on government and making them realize urgency of the issue https://t.co/Y9e0YrT9DI

— RDA AMRITSAR (@RdaAmritsar) January 7, 2022

Justice DY Chandrachud says, "The validity of the criteria determined by the Pandey committee for identifying the EWS prospectively for the future be subject to the final results of the petition. The petition shall be listed for final hearing on the validity of the EWS criteria as recommended by the Pandey committee in the third week of March 2022."

Once the SC decision on NEET was announced, those watching the developments wanted to know the "upheld meaning in law". It means the SC has accepted and allowed an existing policy or decision, in this case the 27% OBC quota in the AIQ of medical seats. It has upheld the constitutional validity of this part of the reservation policy. However, on the 10% EWS quota judgment is still out. 

The Court passed an interim order with the following directions, as per Live Law: 

 1. We accept the recommendations of the Pandey committee that the criteria which have been stipulated in OM 2019(for EWS) be used for 2021–20 22 in order to ensure that the admission process is not dislocated 

2. Counselling on the basis of NEET PG 2021 and Neet UG 2021 shall be conducted by giving effect to the resolution as provided by the notice dated 29 July 2021 including the 27% reservation for OBC category and 10% reservation for EWS category in the all India quota seats.

The bench has now listed the petition for final hearing to determine the validity of EWS criteria as determined by the Pandey Committee in the 3rd week of March.

Justice DY Chandrachud says, "In EWS, we have upheld the criteria so that the admissions are not dislocated for the current academic year." 

Justice DY Chandrachud says, "We accept the recommendation of the Pandey committee to apply the criteria from next year. Counselling shall be conducted by giving effect to the reservation of the OM. Validity of the criteria by Pandey comm would prospectively be subject to the result of the petition in future." Live Law reported.

Justice DY Chandrachud says, " Submissions which have been urged before this court necessitate an interim order. Formulation of the reasons would take some time. Validity of OBC reservation in NEET PG and UG has been upheld," Live Law reported. 

NEET PG Supreme Court hearing live: On the EWS and OBC quotas, there are three broad strands of arguments: 

• One section has opposed both OBC and EWS quota. Their main argument is that both quotas were introduced in state AIQ seats in July 2021, long after the NEET UG and NEET PG 2021 exam bulletins were out. The new quotas change the rules of the "game" mid-way and that is unfair. 
• Another section has argued that the EWS quota's income limit, Rs 8 lakh annual income is totally arbitrary. The additional criteria of property will be hard to prove or find support documents for at this late stage. Alterative income limits of Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 5 lakh have been suggested.
• The section favouring OBC quota has argued that OBC reservation was not implemented in AIQ and that seats have effectively been denied to this group . 
• Solicitor General of India, on behalf of the Centre, has argued that the OBC and EWS quotas have been introduced keeping social justice and equity in mind. 

 Justice DY Chandrachud: In the first matter which was the judgement reserved matter, prepared an order which I'll read. There is a challenge in the batch of plea to notice issued by  DGHS on July 29. Notice implements 27% reservation for OBC and 10% EWS. Notice takes effect from the current AY, petitioners are doc who appeared in NEET PG. Notice was issued on September 6 and results were announced on Sept 28. Arguments were heard on October 7, 2021, Live Law reported.

The bench waiting for Justice Bopanna to join.

The Supreme Court judgment on NEET PG Counselling 2021 shortly. Latest updates here.

The Supreme Court will soon pronounce the final judgment on NEET PG Counselling 2021. The bench assembles. The two-judge bench comprising Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice AS Bopanna will pronounce the verdict on EWS, OBC quota in AIQ seats.

A bench of justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna will shortly pronounce the verdict on NEET PG Counselling soon.

NEET PG Counselling 2021 was taken up by the Supreme Court yesterday. After two of hearing, the Supreme Court yesterday closed the arguments and reserved the order for today. 

The wait is almost over for medical aspirants, the Supreme Court bench will assemble at 10.30 AM today to pronounce final verdict on EWS, OBC reservation in NEET Counselling 2021.

“NEET PG counselling has to start immediately because 3rd year residents are about to pass out in four months. We'll be left with 33% of the workforce. With 3rd wave coming we need doctors," Advocate Archana Pathak Dave for FORDA told the Supreme Court. The top court will soon decide whether to allow NEET PG Counselling2021 to commence on the basis of existing reservation criteria.

NEET PG Counselling date 2021, NEET UG Counselling dates is expected announced soon after the Supreme Court's judgment on EWS, OBC quota in AIQ seats for MBBS, BDS, MD seats.

Senior Advocate Arvind Datar yesterday urged Supreme Court to keep EWS criteria in NEET PG Counselling at 2.5 lakhs in the alternative.

During yesterday's Supreme Court hearing on NEET PG Counselling, Senior Advocate P Wilson points out that the July 29 notification on OBC came following a direction from the Madras High Court. “ We have filed judgement of Mad HC which held that when Central Govt Educational Institutions are concerned, there would be no harm in states granting reservation to too,” he said, as per Live Law report.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday announced an all-party meeting on January 8 here to discuss the next course of action on the state's demand for exemption from NEET, as an Assembly bill in this regard is pending with the Centre. Recalling the unanimous Assembly bill passed in September against NEET, Stalin said, "Our struggle against NEET and for social justice will continue." He reiterated NEET was against the interests of the rural students and charged the Centre, through the entrance test had "snatched away" states' rights to decide on how it will conduct its medical admissions, with the state keen to do so only based on Class 12 marks.

Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin

The Supreme Court to pronounce judgment on NEET PG Counselling today at 10.30 AM. A doctors' federation has moved the Supreme Court saying there is an urgent need to commence the NEET-PG counselling and that the revision of the OBC and EWS reservation criteria at the fag end of the process will lead to further delay in the final selection.

Start NEET PG Counselling immediately: FORDA to Supreme Court (Source: Twitter/AIIMS RDA)

On OBC reservation, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said, “Right from 2006, the Central Educational institutions had 27% OBC reservation. So the OBC quota in All India Quota, as per the impugned notification July 29, is not for the first time.” The July 29 notice provided 27% reservation for Other Backward Class (OBC) and 10% for EWS category in the NEET admissions for medical courses. He further said the seats in all government colleges were increased to accommodate EWS quota. There is a 25% increase in seats, he added.

A bench of justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna asked the parties to file their written submissions for consideration. "We have been hearing this matter for two days, we must start counselling in national interest," the bench said yesterday.

Delays in NEET PG and counselling meant a year of no admission for postgraduation. In July, the union government notified new quotas in postgraduate and undergraduate seats for the Other Backward Classes (27%) and Economically Weaker Sections (10%). These reservations were to be implemented in the seats “surrendered” to the central pool by state-run medical colleges. This pool, the “all-India quota”, claims 15% MBBS seats and 50% postgraduate seats in state colleges.

Read | How a NEET PG aspirant handled the year of delays

Yesterday, after Advocate Archana Pathak Dave who submissions on behalf of FORDA, Justice Chandrachud replied, "The bench shares your concerns. That's a valid point you're making, not only for the doctors but also the citizens. Thank you." She said, "The counselling has to start immediately because 3rd year residents are about to pass out in 4 months. We'll be left with 33% of the workforce. With 3rd wave coming we need doctors."

NEET PG Supreme Court judgement today. Earlier, resident doctors, who were protesting to expedite NEET PG Counselling 2021, called off the agitation and said that the health minister agreed to the following demands in the meeting held on December 29.

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will submit the committee report to the Supreme Court of India before January 6, 2022, and will submit the NEET PG counselling schedule following the court hearing on January 6.
• The ministry regrets the brutal incident of violence by Delhi police against the resident doctors who were protesting peacefully on December 27, 2021.
• No punitive or disciplinary action will be taken against any resident doctors who took part in the agitation that commenced on November 27, 2021.
• A press conference and the official announcement of the proceedings of the meeting.

NEET UG counselling 2021 for the state seats had begun in over half a dozen states by mid-December 2021. These included Maharashtra, Punjab, Kerala. 

Read More | NEET Counselling 2021: MBBS, BDS admission process begins in these states

A bench led by Justice DY Chandrachud will pronounce orders in NEET PG Counselling2021 case today at 10.30 AM. 

Supreme Court judgement on NEET PG Counselling 2021 at 10.30 AM (Source: Twitter/Live Law)

On EWS quota Rs 8 lakh income limit, Senior Advocate Arvind Datar refered to the Sinho Committee Report and said, "Our submission is that 8 lakhs is a top-down approach and not a bottom approach." He reiterated that the basis of the Centre's criteria for determining EWS for the purpose of reservation in the NEET AIQ - of the cut-off income of Rs 8 lakh and of property assets- is completely "arbitrary". He urged Supreme Court to direct Rs 2.5 lakh as the limit for this year for NEET PG counselling, as per the Live Law report. While Senior Advocate Anand Grover suggested to adopt Rs 5 lakh as EWS quota income limit. 

Read More | Explainer: All you need to know about OBC reservation in AIQ medical seats

NEET PG, UG Counselling 2021 is expected to begin soon based on the Supreme Court decision on NEET PG. NEET UG Counselling 2021 dates also are expected to be released soon on Medical Counselling Committee’s official website mcc.nic.in. Candidates have to keep the following documents ready before the NEET PG Counselling begins.

• NEET 2021 admit card.
• NEET 2021 scorecard with rank.
• Class 10 and 12 marksheet.
• ID proof - Aadhaar card, PAN card, Driving License etc.
• Coloured passport sized photographs.
• Caste certificate and PwD certificate, if applicable.

The NEET UG 2021 counselling process has begun for the state seats in many states including Maharashtra. However, the process for the 15% all-India quota (AIQ) seats and with that, admission to all central institutions, is held up by the Supreme Court case for which the order is coming today.  

The NEET PG counselling 2021 is not the only medical admission process stalled due to the Supreme Court case on the OBC and EWS quota. On December 10, the directorate general of health services (DGHS) issued a notice saying that the notification on reservation is "under challenge" in the Supreme Court. It indirectly informed students of the delay in NEET UG counselling 2021. 

Read More | NEET UG Counselling 2021: MCC hints at delay due to Supreme Court case

Supreme Court NEET UG Counselling 2021: MCC notice informing students of the delay

The Supreme Court's final judgment on EWS, OBC reservation in NEET PG Counselling 2021 All India Quota (AIQ) seats soon. The bench assembles at 10.30 AM, After being deferred multiple times, the EWS reservation in NEET PG was taken up by the Supreme Court on January 5. The top court closed the arguments yesterday and reserved the orders on EWS, OBC quota in NEET PG 2021 Counselling.

READ | NEET PG 2021 Counselling: Supreme Court judgment on EWS quota in AIQ seats today

Following this, The MCC had postponed the NEET PG 2021 counselling registration, which was scheduled to begin on October 25 at mcc.nic.in due to a pending court case on EWS, OBC reservation. The Supreme Court hearing on the reservation policy in medical seats was deferred multiple times and was taken up on January 5 after the Centre requested to hear the matter citing "some urgency".

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed the government medical colleges to compulsorily keep 15% MBBS seats and 50% postgraduate MD/ MS seats in the All India Quota. The NMC in an official notice said, “It is mandatory for the government medical colleges to contribute 15% of MBBS seats and 50% of Postgraduate Broad Specialties (MD/ MS) for All India Quota respectively, to MCC of DGHS for conducting of counselling as per the directions of the Supreme Court.”

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) will conduct four rounds of counselling for All India Quota (AIQ) seats in NEET UG and PG 2021 and vacant seats will not go back to the state quota after the second round of counselling.

The Supreme Court judgment on NEET PG 2021 is expected to set new dates for NEET PG Counselling 2021, stalled due to a challenge to the OBC and EWS quotas. How many seats are involved in the matter in question? According to the Narendra Modi government's statement on the OBC, EWS quotas in all-India quota (AIQ) of seats from July 2021, these were the numbers of students it would benefit

Undergraduate (NEET UG): 

• OBC: 1,500 
• EWS: 550 

Postgraduate (NEET PG): 

• OBC: 2,500
• EWS: 1,000

The main reason for the postponement in the NEET PG 2021 counselling date is the years of denial of reservation for the OBC in the all-India quota of undergraduate (MBBS) and PG medical seats. 

Read More | Explainer: All you need to know about OBC reservation in AIQ medical seats

The National Board of Examinations (NBE) has released the information brochure of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Masters of Dental Surgery - NEET MDS 2022 - at nbe.edu.in. The NEET MDS 2022 information brochure has been released with changes in the application fee, exam timings and test centres.  

Advocate Archana Pathak Dave for the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA), which has sought to intervene in the case, said, "NEET PG counselling has to start immediately because 3rd year residents are about to pass out in four months. We'll be left with 33% of the workforce. With 3rd wave coming we need doctors."

Resident Doctors protest over delay in NEET PG Counselling

Senior Advocate Shyam Divan argued yesterday that introducing OBC, EWS quota in July after the issuance of exam notification amounted to changing the rule midway, as per Live Law. While his arguments were mainly two-fold, he argued that PG admissions must be totally merit-based and reservations must be minimal.

On January 5, Senior Advocate Arvind Datar suggested postponing the implementation of EWS, OBC reservation to the next NEET PG admission. While Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for Centre has urged the Supreme Court to allow commencement of NEET counselling.

The Supreme Court adjourned on January 5 and closed the arguments on NEET PG Counselling yesterday. On Tuesday, the top court agreed to hear NEET PG Counselling dates delay case, after the Centre on Monday requested to schedule a hearing in a matter related to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota, citing "some urgency". The matter was initially listed for January 6, 2022.

Supreme Court judgment on NEET PG Counselling today

The July 29 notice provided 27% reservation for Other Backward Class (OBC) and 10% for EWS category in the NEET admissions for medical courses.

A bench of justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna was hearing a batch of pleas challenged the July 29 notice providing 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and 10% for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category in 15% UG and 50% PG All India Quota seats (MBBS or BDS and MD, MS, MDS) with effect from the academic session 2021-22.

wThe Supreme Court will pronounce final judgment on EWS, OBC reservation in NEET PG Counselling 2021 today. NEET PG, UG counselling dates will be announced soon after the Supreme Court verdict on EWS quota in NEET PG 2021. A bench of justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna heard the matter yesterday and reserved the order. The bench assembles at 10.30 AM.