Supreme Court dismisses petition seeking postponement of NEET PG exam

NEET PG 2022: The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition seeking postponement of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-PG 2022) for admission to postgraduate medical courses. A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant, during the hearing on Friday, rejected the demand for postponement of the NEET PG exam 2022, which was to be held on May 21.

NEET PG will be held on 21st May only

The bench said that it is a matter of conflict of interest. Millions of people will be affected by this. Postponing the exam will delay the syllabus and may lead to shortage of resident doctors. A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant said that it cannot issue directions to postpone the examination, which will cause hardship to lakhs of candidates who have registered and prepared for it. NEET PG exam will be held on May 21 only.

 

The government can postpone if it wants, but the court will not interfere

During the hearing, senior advocate Rakesh Kumar Khanna, appearing for the petitioners, raised the issue of delay in NEET 2021 counseling and said that the candidates are facing problems. They will not be able to appear in the exam because of their participation in the counselling. Therefore the examination should be postponed for eight to 10 weeks.

On this the ASG told the court that 2.6 lakh candidates are preparing. To this, Khanna said that he wants to postpone the examination with a majority. He has also written a letter to the Prime Minister. To this, the bench said that if the government decides to postpone the examination, it will be fine, but the apex court cannot give such directions. It is also not appropriate to link NEET 2022 with 2021.

Medical student organizations are continuously raising the demand

A PIL was filed in the Supreme Court on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, by the All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) to postpone the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test. Apart from this, two other organizations of medical students FAIMA and UDFA are also continuously raising their voice for the demand to postpone the NEET PG exam. On behalf of the organizations, a letter was also written to the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister and the Prime Minister demanding relief.

 

IMA also demanded, the minister said - the matter is confined to only seven states

At the same time, a delegation of IMA i.e. Indian Medical Association had also met Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday and urged to postpone the examination. However, the Union Health Minister did not give them any concrete assurances. The minister said that they are looking into the matter, but it is difficult. Because only the state is in favor of postponing the exam.