NEET PG Counselling 2021: Centre decides to revisit Rs 8 lakh criteria for EWS; Counselling postponed

NEW DELHI: The Central Government has told the Supreme Court that it has decided to review Rs 8 lakh criteria for determining Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category in National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) All India Quota (AIQ) and will come up with a fresh decision within four weeks, the LiveLaw reported .

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Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured that NEET PG counselling 2021 remains deferred till then.

Senior Advocate Arvind D Patar, appearing for the petitioners, gave a suggestion that the implementation of EWS could be done next year as counselling is being delayed for the PG students. Upon this, the Centre replied that it might be difficult for the government as they want to carry out the process properly.

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Justice DY Chandrachud said, “we don't want to push them in a situation where they do something in an improper way” and agreed with Centre’s decision to take four weeks for the process.

On October 21, the top court had asked the Centre whether it would like to revisit the limit of rupees eight lakh annual income, fixed for determining the EWS category for reservation in NEET admissions for medical courses. The top court had clarified that it is not embarking into the policy domain but is only trying to ascertain whether constitutional principles have adhered or not.

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The top court was hearing a batch of pleas challenging the Centre and Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) July 29 notice providing 27% reservation for Other Backward Class (OBC) and 10% for EWS category in the NEET admissions for medical courses.

The Centre had earlier justified before the Supreme Court its decision to set the limit of Rs 8 lakh annual income fixed for determining the EWS category. It said the principle of fixing the amount is rational and in keeping with Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Constitution.