NEET-PG Counselling : FORDA Approaches Supreme Court; Says Revision Of Reservation Criteria Now Will Delay Process

The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association(FORDA), India, through its President, Dr, Manish, has filed an application seeking the Supreme Court's indulgence to implead it as a party in the Writ Petition filed to challenge the provision of 27% reservation for OBCs and 10% reservation for the Economically Weaker Section in the AIQ Scheme for UG and PG medical/dental courses from academic year 2021-22.

Federation of Resident Doctor's Association, India which is an Association of Resident Doctors formed with the objective to look into the welfare of the Resident Doctors across India has pointed out in its application that every year approximately 45,000 candidates are indicted as PG doctors through the NEET PG Examination, but the said process of induction had been hindered in the year 2021 as the NEET PG Examination was delayed until the month of September due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was emphasised that due to non-commencement of the counselling process, the induction process has been kept in abeyance leaving hospitals and medical colleges understaffed. Since, no 1st year PG Doctor/ Junior Residents have been inducted for the year, the 2nd and 3rd year PG doctors are addressing the concern of the patients. It has been averred that they are working for more than 80 hours per week; several of them have now been tested positive for COVID-19; they are overburdened, overworked which has a bearing on public healthcare at large. Pertinently, it has been subm Citted that in the month of March/April, 2022, the 3rd year PG Residents Doctors would also complete their course and leave their college which will affect the sanctioned strength of PG Doctors.

It had been further highlighted in the application that -

"...it is pertinent to note that, keeping in mind that the postgraduate course spans over three years, the hindrance in the induction of first year postgraduate doctors, in effect, results in a deficiency of around 33% of the medical workforce constituted by the Postgraduate Doctors.

[…]Moreover, it is the first time in the history of the independent India, that the nation has had a Zero Session qua the Post Graduate Courses (MD/MS)."

The application submits that VNMC and Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi have a sanctioned strength of 850 PG Resident Doctors, out of which only 550 PG Resident Doctors are available at the moment due to the non-induction of Junior Residents for the current year. It has been put forth that out of these 550, 60 have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past few days. Similarly, at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital total sanctioned strength is 550 PG Resident Doctors, out of which only about 320 PG Resident Doctors are available and about 60 doctors have now been tested positive for COVID-19.

In view of the above circumstances and the ongoing country-wide protest, the applicant has emphasised that there is an urgent need to commence with the NEET PG Counselling and induct Junior Resident Doctors.

With respect to the challenge to the provision of OBC and EWS reservation in the AIQ category from the academic year 2021-22, the applicant is of the view that the opinion of the Three Member Committee formed by the Union Government, that the revision in the present scheme of reservation ought to be implemented from the next academic year is appropriate as any further revision to the reservation criteria at this point in time would further delay the process of induction weakening the whole healthcare system, that too in such a crucial point in time.

"That report of the said Three Member Committee further stands fortified by the fact that the Healthcare Infrastructure is already understaffed and hence cannot be put to further disadvantageous position in such testing times. The revision of the OBC and EWS reservation criteria at such fag-end of the process shall certainly lead to furthermore delay in the commencement of the NEET PG Counselling and the final selection thereafter."

The Court is hearing the case now. For live updates, refer to this page.