SC Asks Centre to Respond on NEET-SS 2024 Cancellation: Petitioners Challenge NMC Decision

The Supreme Court on Friday sought responses from the Centre and other authorities regarding a plea against the National Medical Commission's (NMC) decision to not conduct the NEET-Super Speciality (NEET-SS) 2024 examination, according to a PTI report.

The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Super Speciality (NEET-SS) is an essential exam for doctors with postgraduate qualifications such as MD, MS, and DNB, allowing them to gain admission to super-speciality courses.

A bench consisting of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra was informed by a lawyer representing 13 aspirants that the NMC has opted not to hold the examination this year. Reports suggest that NEET-SS might be scheduled for January 2025 instead.

The court's notices were directed to the Centre, the Medical Counselling Committee, and the NMC. The petitioners, led by Rahul Balwan and 12 others, were also given permission to include the National Board of Examinations (NBE) as a party in their petition. The hearing is set for July 26, as reported by the PTI.

Citing a previous Supreme Court judgment, the petitioners argued that NEET-SS should be held annually and that the schedule for admissions to super-speciality courses has been pre-established by the top court. The lawyer for the petitioners suggested that the decision to delay the exam this year may be due to earlier delays in medical course admissions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.