NEET-PG admissions: Centre to revisit Rs 8 lakh annual income limit for EWS; counselling further put off
The Central Government has informed the Supreme Court that it has taken a considered decision to revisit the limit of Rs 8 lakh annual income fixed for determining the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category for reservation in NEET admissions for postgraduate medical courses.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed a Bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant and Vikram Nath that a committee would be constituted to determine the criteria for the EWS and it would take four weeks.
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Tushar Mehta said NEET (PG) counselling would stand postponed for further four weeks as per assurance earlier given to the Supreme Court.
The apex court was hearing a batch of pleas filed by students challenging the Centre and the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) July 29 notice providing 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Class (OBC) and 10 per cent for EWS category in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-PG) admissions for medical courses for the current academic year.
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Justice Kant said the EWS quota was a very enabling and progressive kind of reservation and all states should support the Centre in its endeavour.
The Bench said the only question was that determination of the category should be in a scientific manner and it appreciated that the Centre had taken a decision to revisit the criteria earlier fixed. The matter has been fixed for further hearing on January 6.
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Earlier, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre to put on hold the counselling for NEET-PG until it decides the validity of the Centre's decision to introduce OBC and EWS reservation in All India Quota.
It had said NEET-PG counselling would not start without its approval as the court is examining a plea against the Centre's decision for medical admission.
The Central Government had also assured the apex court that the counselling process would not commence till the Bench decided the matter.
The July 29 notice provide 27 per cent reservation for OBC and 10 per cent for EWS category in 15 per cent UG and 50 per cent PG All India Quota seats (MBBS/BDS and MD/MS/MDS) with effect from the current academic session 2021-22.
On October 21, the Bench had asked the Centre whether it would like to revisit the limit of Rs 8 lakh annual income, fixed for determining the EWS category for reservation in NEET admissions for medical courses.
It had asked the Centre whether any exercise was undertaken before fixing a limit of Rs 8 lakh annual income for determining the EWS category. -PTC News
