NEET PG Counselling will not start till Supreme Court decides on EWS reservation: Centre to top court

The counselling for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for post graduate courses for the year 2021 will not commence till the Supreme Court decides the case on reservation for for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) in the All India Quota Medical Seats, the Central government assured the top court on Monday..The assurance was given by Central government law officer, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) KM Nataraj, after Senior Advocate Arvind Datar mentioned the matter.Datar told a Bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud that a counselling schedule has been released. "They have issued a complete schedule starting from 24th and ending on the 29th. That would mean everything is over," said Datar.."This notice that you've gotten hold of was meant for just the colleges for the purpose of verification of seats," Nataraj said. "I have gotten information from the Directorate General of Health Services," Datar replied. The Bench then intervened and asked the ASG whether it can have his assurance that counselling will not start."Counselling will not start till we decide on the issue. Mr. Natraj, we are taking your word for it," said Justice Chandrachud."Absolutely you can, My Lord. Mr. Datar can directly contact me if there is any difficulty," Nataraj responded.Soon after the hearing, the Directorate General of Health Services issued a notice confirming that counselling shall begin only after obtaining clarifications from the Supreme Court..The Supreme Court is seized of a case challenging the 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and 10% reservation for EWS in all-India Quota seats for postgraduate medical courses.The petitioners have sought quashing of a July 29 notification issued by the Medical Counselling Committee announcing these reservations in all-India quota seats starting from the current academic session 2021-22.As many as 15% seats in MBBS and 50% seats in MS and MD courses in medical colleges are filled through the all-India quota from candidates selected through NEET.The petitioners raised the questions as to whether there should be vertical or horizontal reservations for these seats, and whether an annual income of ₹8 lakh was a valid criteria for availing reservation under the EWS category..[Read Notice]