NEET-MDS Counseling 2021 Put On Hold As MCC Wants To Seek Clarification From Supreme Court On EWS Quota

The Medical Counselling Committee has temporarily put on hold the NEET-MDS 2021 counselling to seek a clarification from the Supreme Court regarding the impact of a recent Madras High Court judgment regarding the quota for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

The dates for the much delayed NEET-MDS counselling was announced by the MCC recently as starting from August 20 and concluding on October 10, 2020. It was only after several critical observations from the Supreme Court that the counselling dates were announced on August 10.

The Madras High Court, in an order passed on August 25, held that EWS quota in NEET counselling can be implemented only with the approval of the Supreme Court.

"In view of the order dated 25.08.2021 of the Hon'ble High Court of Madras, legal opinion is being sought by MCC of DGHS/ MoHFW from the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in this matter.

Hence, the Round-1 of MDS Counselling 2021 is temporarily being put on hold to seek clarification from Hon'ble Supreme Court in this regard. The counselling process will be resumed only after clarification and approval of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in this matter", a press release issued by the MCC stated.

Earlier, a group of BDS students had appraoched the Supreme Court aggreived with the long delay in announcing the counselling dates. Endorsing the grievances of the students, a division bench comprising Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah had observed that the delay in holding the counselling was affecting the future of the students. The Bench had observed that the delay in counselling would lead to serious consequences to the students, who have been waiting after the test results were announced on December 31, 2020.

Following the strict directions from the Court, the counselling dates were formally announced on August 10.