SC likely to hear plea challenging OBC and EWS reservations in AIQ on Nov 23

While the medical aspirants are eagerly waiting for the NEET PG Counselling schedule, Supreme Court has deferred the hearing on OBC and EWS reservation in AIQ to November 23.

The aspirants of UG and PG medical courses are waiting for the NEET counselling schedule to be announced as the process is already delayed. Today, the Supreme Court was to hear the plea challenging the Centre and Medical Counselling Committee’s (MCC) decision to give 27% reservation for Other Backward Class (OBC) and 10 per cent for EWS category for admission to PG medical seats through National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET).

The Supreme Court is now likely to hear the matter on November 23.

Earlier, NEET PG counselling for 50% AIQ seats was scheduled to start on October 25, 2021, which the MCC had postponed and also the Centre assured the apex court that they will not start the NEET PG counselling until the top court decides on OBC and EWS reservation for PG medical courses in AIQ through NEET.

Justice Chandrachud had said in the court, "We will take your word for it then, so long as the students are not counselled. We will take your word that counselling is not starting till we decide one way or the other. Students will be in a serious problem otherwise..."

SC had asked the Centre on October 21 that whether it would like to revisit the limit of INR 8 lakh annual income fixed for the EWS category for reservation in medical courses through NEET. The Centre had justified its decision to set INR 8 lakh annual income limit for determining the EWS category for reservation in the NEET exam before the court on October 26. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court and said that the principle of fixing the amount for determining the EWS category is rational and in keeping with Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the constitution.

Read more:

• Medical UG, PG aspirants anxiously waiting for SC decision on med quota
• NEET reservations: Centre justifies INR 8 lakh annual income limit for EWS category