NEET PG 2024: AISU raises issues faced by PwD candidates, files petition seeking revision of centre allocation

NEW DELHI: The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Postgraduate (NEET-PG) 2024 exam is scheduled to be held on August 11, 2024. Many candidates are upset due to the allocation of exam centres at far-off locations. Addressing the issue, the vice president of All India Students Union (AISU), Sai Krishna, has filed a petition before the chief commissioner for Persons with Disabilities.

The petition highlights significant issues faced by persons with disabilities (PwD) candidates appearing for the NEET PG 2024 examination. It raises concerns about the candidates being assigned exam centres hundreds of kilometres from their homes, resulting in significant travel difficulties and financial burdens.

“Many students, including those with disabilities, had already travelled to their designated centres, incurring expenses for transportation and accommodation. The abrupt cancellation not only wasted their resources but also caused severe mental anguish,” the official letter read.

The petition also highlights the technical issues faced by the candidates during the selection of the exam centre. As per the letter, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) website was unresponsive, causing significant difficulties for candidates in selecting their preferred exam centres. This failure, combined with the frequent changes in exam dates, has left PwD students with inadequate time to prepare and arrange for necessary accommodations.

Grounds for filing the petition

The petition claims that these actions breach constitutional rights, including equality and non-discrimination (Article 14), access to education (Article 21A), and a dignified life (Article 21). The sudden notice and rescheduling of exam dates create stress and anxiety, violating their right to a dignified life under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.

The petition requests directives from the authorities to reallocate exam centres and ensure they are within a reasonable distance from the residences of PwD students. Authorities should ensure that all examination centres have accessible facilities for disabled students. “Considering that the NEET PG 2024 examination is scheduled for August 11, 2024, and the admit cards are to be released on August 8, 2024, it is imperative that this petition is treated with urgency to ensure timely redressal of the issues faced by disabled students,” the letter read.