NEET-SS 2021- 'What Is The Hurry In Changing Pattern?Have Some Concern For Students', Supreme Court To NBE [LIVE UPDATES FROM HEARING]

Divan : Some of the petitioners have also given up their jobs for studying. I want to project to this court, that at least in so far as this year is concerned, the scheme should not be permitted to be changed. These are living experiences. It affects people who have been striving very very hard. There is a justification in the facts and circumstances of this case to intervene at an interlocutory stage.

Divan points out that the students had been preparing for past several years with the super specialty in their mind. The elimination of super specialty questions has rendered all efforts useless. Now the student will stand to lose to a person who may have done general medicine.

Divan reading out the affidavit of the student - The changes will affect the quality of education in the long run as the exams are now based on general medicine.

Divan now reading out the affidavit of one of the students about his preparations.

"The sudden change in exam pattern in eliminating Part B with 60% marks from the super specialty has resulted in my efforts going waste"

Justice Chandrachud : What is the hurry. You have an examination pattern which had been going on from 2018 to 2020. Yes, you are an expert body, we agree...but...

Prashant Bhushan interjects : They have not consulted the expert body. This PG Medical Education Board...has not been consulted.

Maninder Singh (NBE) : You should hold your horses. There are no lies. Be certain circumspect in making these allegations. The Chairman of PG Board attended the meetings. There were three meetings.

Justice Chandrachud : You can bring these changes. But have some concern for the students.

Justice Chandrachud : The fact that the seats remain vacant- whose concern is that? That is the concern of management and private colleges. Should that be at the cost of students?

Maninder Singh : These are all government seats.

Divan objects.

Justice Chandrachud : What is the break up of seats between govt and private seats?

Maninder Singh : I will get instructions on that.

Maninder Singh (for NBE) : Now we have given time to prepare by deferring the exams by two months.

Justice Chandrachud : Your reply affidavit makes it ex-facie clear how one category is privileged at the cost of all other feeder specialties.

Justice Chandrachud  : Earlier, a candidate who had studied anesthesia would also have got some questions from it. Now all questions are from general medicine. What this does is privileging students who have done general medicine at the cost of all other feeder specialties?

Maninder Singh (for NBE) : This was done on suggestion by experts.

Justice Chandrachud : Experts are also subject to Article 14. What was the hurry in changing the pattern?

Maninder Singh (NBE Counsel) : Earlier, 60% questions were from the Super Specialty the students wanted to opt. Last time, the question asked by the bench was how students could be tested on something which they are going to study?

Justice Chandrachud : This is an indication of how botched up our education system is.