NEET-PG 2023: Delhi HC issues Notice On Plea Challenging Reduction Of Qualifying Percentile To Zero

The petitioners said that they wrote a representation to the Union Ministry seeking clarification on the order and requesting its withdrawal but they received no reply till now.

Delhi High Court has issued a notice on plea filed by various doctor candidates against the reduction of cut-off percentile to zero for remaining rounds of counselling.

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav sought response of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, National Board of Examination and Medical Counselling Committee.

The plea was moved by three MBBS doctors who took NEET PG exam on March 5, and were participating in the counselling process.

“…by reducing the eligibility criteria to zero percentile, i.e., minus 40 marks-the very purpose of conducting of the NEET PG exam stands defeated. It also fades away the entire purpose of a “National Eligibility cum Entrance test” if the quotient of “eligibility” itself is diluted,” the plea states, as reported by Live Law.

“the Impugned Order is prejudicial to the candidates who had opted out of the second round of the counselling process as it seeks to operate in retrospect, Candidates had opted out of Second Round hoping for a better seat in the Mop Up round that used to be held each year, however, the conversion of seats in the proposed Third round is different and substantially less than the erstwhile Mop Up Round, as such, the Impugned Order has vitiated the calculated approach of candidates in hindsight,” the plea added.

NEET PG 2023 Cut-off: The Background

Earlier, various doctors' association were demanding to reduce the NEET-PG 2023 cut-off percentile to prevent vacant seats. The health ministry considered the demand and they reduced the cut-off to zero across the categories. While many doctors welcomed the decision, others criticised this move and said it will lower the standard of medical education in India.

Read more:

• NEET PG 2023: FORDA welcomes govt decision to reduce cut-off percentile to zero
• NEET PG 2023: JKBOPEE releases 2nd round provisional list of candidates for MD/MS/PGD and MDS Courses