Supreme Court allows NEET-PG counselling for 2021-22 based on existing EWS/OBC reservation

In a big relief for doctors, the Supreme Court on Monday gave its nod to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and OBC quota in postgraduate medical admissions through the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).

Earlier on Thursday, a bench of justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna had reserved its order and asked the parties to file their written submissions for consideration. "We have been hearing this matter for two days, we must start counselling in the national interest," the bench had said.

For the unversed, nationwide protests were held by resident doctors of various hospitals under the banner of the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) over the delay in the NEET-PG counselling, which has been postponed due to the pendency of the case and the Centre deciding to revisit the criterion for the determination of the EWS quota.