NEET-PG AIQ : Are Reserved Category Candidates Who're High On Merit Admitted In General Category? Supreme Court Asks Union
Live LawIn a petition seeking proper implementation of reservation policy in the NEET-PG Counselling, the Supreme Court, on Tuesday, asked the Union Government to file an Affidavit. Chandrachud, Justice Hima Kohli and Justice J.B. Pardiwala submitted that seats belonging to meritorious reserved candidates who are entitled to get admissions against the 50% seats of the general category, were being allotted reserved category seats in violation of the judgments of the Apex Court in Ritesh R. Sah v. Dr. Y.L. The Bench noted that the crux of the issue in the matter is - "…in NEET-PG seats in All India Quota, candidates belonging to reserved category who are sufficiently high on merit to secure a seat against the general category can yet be treated as candidate for seat in reserved category." The petition alleges that as per the allotment list released for Round 1 of NEET-PG Counselling, it is apparent that reserved category candidates who come under the top 50% seats have been assigned reserved category seats instead of general seats, which they are eligible for. The petition submits that it is a settled position of law that reserved category candidates who are eligible for and qualify for unreserved seats shall be admitted against general seats.