States ignore Supreme Court, differ on NEET-PG seat norms
States are reportedly failing to comply with a Supreme Court ruling that prohibits using domicile as a criterion for postgraduate medical admissions. Despite the court's mandate to prioritize NEET-PG scores and institutional preference, varying state-specific eligibility rules continue to create unequal opportunities for students.
Why it matters
The lack of uniform admission standards undermines the integrity of national entrance exams and creates significant legal and logistical hurdles for medical aspirants across India.
NEW DELHI: More than a year after Supreme Court ruled that residence or domicile cannot be the basis for postgraduate medical admissions under the state quota, parents of NEET-PG aspirants say admission rules still vary across states, leaving students with unequal opportunities despite having taken the same national entrance examination.The concerns stem from SC’s Jan 29, 2025, judgement in Dr Tanvi Behl vs Shrey Goel case, which held that residence-based preference in postgraduate medical admissions is not permissible. The court said admissions should be based on NEET-PG scores while allowing only limited institutional preference, meaning a student may receive preference for having graduated from a particular medical college – and not because he or she is a resident or domicile of a state.The dispute primarily concerns private medical colleges, where admissions are conducted through state counselling. Several states prescribe domicile or other state-specific eligibility conditions.
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