27% Reservation For OBC, 10% For EWS: Supreme Court On NEET PG Admissions
Mumbai: Supreme Court on Friday gave nod to NEET PG admissions with 27% reservation for Other Backward Class (OBC) category and 10% for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
In an interim order issued by the apex court, the existing norms of 27% reservation for OBC and 10% reservation for the EWS category have been retained for this academic year. The existing norm of 8 lakhs will also be applicable for this year.
Justice DY Chandrashud, citing the need for an interim order, said the situation required prompt action. He also said that reservation is constitutionally valid.
Upholding the recommendations, the bench said, “We accept the recommendation of the Pandey Committee to implement the norms from next year onwards. Counselling shall be conducted by giving effect to the reservation of the OM. Validity of the criteria by Pandey comm would prospectively be subject to the result of the petition in future.”
“In EWS, we’ve upheld the criteria so that the admissions are not dislocated for the current academic year,” added Justice Chandrachud. The present EWS 10 per cent criteria would be applicable for this Academic year. This, however, would be subject to the final hearing, which would be conducted in the third week of March.
Upholding the recommendations, the bench said, “We accept the recommendation of the Pandey Committee to implement the norms from next year onwards. A consultation will be held to give effect to the reservation of OMs. The validity of the norms will be reviewed by Pandey comm would prospectively be subject to the result of the petition in future.”
A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna delivered the verdict. The bench had agreed that the pending NEET PG counselling is a matter of concern, especially in the present circumstances of the rising third wave of the pandemic.
The petition was filed against the Centre’s decision to introduce reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in the All India Quota of Postgraduate Medical Admission. Because of this, the counselling process got delayed.
Agreeing on the urgency of the resolution and initiation of the consultation process, Justice Chandrachud said, “We have been hearing this for two days, we should initiate consultations in the interest of the nation.”
Meanwhile, the Center defended its stand requesting continuation of admissions as per the previous order and offered to implement the changes from the next academic year.
Petitioners, on the other hand, had made their submissions, questioning the criterion of annual 8 lakh income for EWS. The matter now stands resolved for now.
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