The Supreme Court has recently rejected a plea challenging the postponement of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Super Speciality Examination 2024, commonly known as NEET-SS.
The court, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, ruled that the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) decision to delay the exam was not arbitrary. However, the court did direct the NMC to expedite its decision-making process regarding the scheduling of the NEET-SS 2024 exams to provide clarity for students.
The plea, filed by a group of 13 doctors including Rahul Balwan, sought to have the NEET-SS 2024 conducted as originally planned, between July and August 2024. The petitioners argued that the NMC’s decision to postpone the examination indefinitely disrupted their career plans and violated the established schedule set by the Supreme Court.
They contended that the NMC's decision was made without proper justification and caused undue stress to candidates who had made significant personal and professional sacrifices in preparation for the exam.
The NMC’s postponement was attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had led to delays in the MD/MS and DNB courses for the 2021 academic year.
The petitioners argued that the postponement unfairly affected those who had completed their postgraduate courses and were preparing for the NEET-SS, thereby causing them to lose an entire year.
They also claimed that the postponement disrupted the academic calendar and the established admission schedule, which is crucial for maintaining a predictable and transparent system.
The petition highlighted that the Supreme Court had previously approved a schedule for the completion of admissions to Super Speciality Courses, which stipulated that the NEET-SS exams should be held by July and the entire process completed by August each year. The postponement, according to the petitioners, violated this schedule and affected the career trajectories of many qualified doctors.
Additionally, the petitioners raised concerns that delaying the NEET-SS 2024 could lead to further irregularities and disruptions in the admission process. They urged the NMC to address these issues and ensure that future examinations are conducted without further interruptions.
The Supreme Court’s decision to reject the plea means that while the postponement will stand, the NMC is expected to make a timely decision regarding the new schedule for the NEET-SS 2024 to minimise uncertainty for the students.
Follow us
