The Central Government assured the Supreme Court on Monday that it would put on hold the counselling for NEET-PG until the court ruled on validity of the OBC(Other Backward Class) and EWS(Economically Weaker Sections) reservation introduced by the centre into All India Quota(AIQ).
Context : The Supreme Court last week expressed doubts on validity of Centre’s criterion for EWS that set annual income limit as Rs 8 lakh for quota eligibility . The hearing relating to this is scheduled for 28 October.
Meanwhile, a notification from Director General of Health Services indicated counselling would commence from 25, 2021 and students approached the apex court seeking to stall the move.
In submission today, the Additional Solicitor General said that notification was only meant to colleges for purpose of verifying seats. A clarificatory notification has been issued today confirming counselling shall be held only after court decision on the issue, he added.
“We will take your word for it” said the court, adding that, students could be put into serious trouble if counselling was done before court order.
