Supreme Court directs special round for NEET counselling

In light of India’s severe physician scarcity, the Supreme Court has ordered the Medical Counseling Committee (MCC) to hold a special round of counseling in order to fill open medical seats for undergraduate programs that need the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).

Additionally, a bench consisting of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan ordered that the State Admission Authorities be used to fill the open NRI seats, which would also be transformed into the general category quota.

“Taking into consideration the peculiar facts and circumstances and further that the precious medical seats should not go to waste when the country is facing acute shortage of Doctors, we are inclined to extend the period by way of a last chance,” stated the statement.

“The Admission Authorities are, therefore, directed to hold a fresh stray/special counselling for the seats remaining vacant and complete the admission process before December 30, 2024, in any eventuality,” the Supreme Court ruled in its ruling.

The court further ordered that admissions be handled solely via the State Admission Authorities and that no institution would be allowed to enroll students directly.

Additionally, it made clear that only waitlisted applicants will be admitted and that the stray/special admissions procedure should not interfere with admissions that have already been decided.

In response to an appeal asking the admissions authorities to hold stray or special counseling sessions for seats that remained unfilled after five rounds of counseling, the highest court issued its ruling.