SC allows resumption of NEET-PG medical counselling with 27% quota for OBCs, 10% for EWS

The Supreme Court passed an interim order on January 7, giving its nod to proceed with the counselling for NEET-PG on the basis of the existing 27% quota for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections(EWS) in the All India Quota.

A bench of justices D Y Chandrachud and A S Bopanna upheld the constitutionality of 27% OBC reservation. In terms of the criteria used to determine EWS (Rs 8 lakh gross annual income cut-off), the Apex court decided to keep the existing criteria in place for the current admission year in order to avoid further delays in the admission process. The implementation of EWS criteria in the future, which has been stipulated in the Office Memorandum of July 2019, will be contingent on the petition’s final decision.

Justice D Y Chandrachud said, “We have upheld the constitutional validity of 27% reservation for OBC in NEET PG and UG. For EWS, the 10% will apply for this year and the prospective ruling will be decided on a final EWS hearing to be held on March 3, 2022.”

The case concerns petitions contesting the central government’s introduction of reservation for OBC and EWS in AIQ seats in state government medical institutes.

During the case’s hearing on October 25, the central government assured the Supreme Court that PG medical course counselling will not commence till the matter is resolved by the court.

On November 25, the central government informed the SC that it is proposing to reconsider the criteria for determining the EWS reservation. It then constituted an expert committee for the same.

The Centre filed an affidavit before the Apex court on January 1, informing that it has decided to stick to the existing criteria of Rs 8 lakh annual income limit for determination of EWS reservation with respect to the ongoing admissions to the NEET PG courses, while the revised criteria suggested by the committee may be implemented from the next admission cycle.