NEET PG Counselling 2021: Change in reservation policy now will delay the admission, says FORDA

Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) has said to the Supreme Court that changing the OBC and EWS reservation policy for undergraduate and postgraduate courses now will further delay NEET PG Counselling 2021.

India has already entered the third wave of Covid-19 as confirmed by Dr NK Arora, Chairman of India's Covid-19 vaccine task force NTAGI (National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation). There is a need for more doctors in the country and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) PG Counselling 2021 has still not started. Today, the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) has said to the top court of the country that any changes in the reservation policy now will result in further delay of the postgraduate admission process.

The resident doctors of the country are overburdened as the fourth year doctors have passed and first-year doctors are still to join. The resident doctors all across the country have participated in the FORDA-led protest to expedite the NEET PG Counselling 2021. 

FORDA has today filed an application in Supreme Court to implead as a party in the writ petition filed to challenge the provision of 27% OBC and 10% EWS reservation in AIQ scheme for admission to UG and PG medical and dental courses from the academic session 2021-202, as reported by Live Law.

The application reads, "It is pertinent to note that, keeping in mind that the postgraduate course spans over three years, the hindrance in the induction of first-year postgraduate doctors, in effect, results in a deficiency of around 33% of the medical workforce constituted by the postgraduate doctors. Moreover, it is the first time in the history of independent India, that the nation has had a zero session qua the postgraduate courses (MD/MS)."

"The report of the said Three Member Committee further stands fortified by the fact that the Healthcare infrastructure is already understaffed and hence cannot be put to further disadvantageous position in such testing times. The revision of the OBC and EWS reservation criteria at such fag-end of the process shall certainly lead to furthermore delay in the commencement of the NEET PG Counselling and the final selection thereafter."

FORDA INDIA has tweeted, "#Update: To highlight the grievance of #ResidentDoctors of the nation adequately in Hon’ble #SupremeCourt, we have decided to join the case concerning #NEETPGCounselling2021. The application has been filed & we will be a part of the Court hearing- Team #FORDA @MoHFW_INDIA @ANI"

Read more:

• NEET PG Counselling 2021: Supreme Court to resume hearing on EWS, OBC quota today
• Doctors' response on latest developments related to NEET PG 2021 Counselling