NEET-MDS : Supreme Court Refuses To Postpone NEET-MDS 2024 Exam, Centre Says Internship Cut-Off Date Extended To June 30

The Union Government on Friday (March 15) informed the Supreme Court that it has extended the internship cut-off date for the NEET MDS exam from March 31, 2024 to June 30, 2024.

Taking note of this submission made by the Union, the Court closed an application filed by the NEET MDS aspirants seeking to reschedule the NEET MDS 2024 which is due on March 18, 2024, and to direct extension of cut-off for eligibility after revising the internship completion dates.

The Court refused to pass orders to postpone the exam from the scheduled date. The Court noted that nearly 28,000 students are appearing for the exam.

On February 21, the Union informed the Supreme Court that it was examining the grievances of NEET-MDS candidates regarding the extension of the internship deadline. Taking note of this stand of the Union, the Court on February 21 disposed of the petition filed by the students, allowing them to file a representation before the authorities.

Last week, the students filed a miscellaneous application to reopen the petition, stating that the Union has not taken a decision. While considering that application today, the bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra was informed of the decision taken by the Union to extend the internship cut-off date.

The bench was also informed today that the exam will take place on Monday (March 19). The Union also stated that the portal for registering for the exam will be open for three days and that 568 students have registered as a result of the decision to extend the cut-off date. Recording the statement of the Union, the bench closed the application. The bench stated that it cannot pass further orders for relief in a miscellaneous application and said that the petitioners could initiate other legal proceedings if they have any further grievances. 

Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the petitioners, pressed for the postponement of the exam, stressing that the students are only halfway through the clinical course. He referred to the 2023 order of the Telangana High Court which stated that there should be a uniform cut-off date across the country.

"For next academic year, every effort will be taken to ensure all the candidates who have completed MBBS/BDS course are made eligible and every opportunity will be given to the students to prepare for the examination and take up the examination, therefore the question of postponing the NEET P.G./NEET-MDS examination would not arise," the High Court had observed.

"Leaving out 8000 students who have not finished their course is unjust," Gonsalves argued.

Mr Gaurav Sharma on behalf of the NDC submitted that the exam schedule for dental courses were affected due to Covid19 and a conscious effort is being made by the Commission to bring the schedule back on rails.

The Court also observed in the order, "We are unable to subscribe to the submission that there should be parity between in NEET-MDS and NEET PG....".

The Court said that it cannot intervene in a policy decision taken by the authorities. "On parameters of judicial review, we think it is inappropriate to interfere at this stage. we decline to intervene in the present matter," the Court observed in the order.

The basis for filing the current petition emerged when the relevant respondent, the National Board of Examinations (NBE), announced the rescheduling of NEET PG 2024 from March 3rd to July 7th, 2024, setting the cutoff date as August 15, 2024. In contrast, NEET MDS was notified on January 20, 2024, to take place on March 18th, 2024, with an internship completion cutoff date of March 31, 2024. The petitioners alleged that the cut-off date is "arbitrary".

Aditya Dubey & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors. | Writ Petition (Civil) No. 104 of 2024

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