SC refuses to postpone NEET-PG 2022

Although the petitioners contended that the postponement would not cause any prejudice to anyone, the court said it must be borne in mind that there are students who have registered

Turning down the prayer, the court said the request cannot be entertained as it would also affect patient care and doctors’ careers. “The academic schedule has already been delayed by over four months… Any delay in conducting the exam will result in a fewer number of resident doctors. Only two sets of doctors are there this year. The request cannot be granted.”

The court said the schedule must be adhered to as the country gets back on the rails after what happened on account of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The bench was hearing petitions by MBBS doctors who appeared in NEET PG 2021 exams and participated in the ongoing counseling process for 2021-2022.

They prayed the court to postpone the exams by eight weeks and also to allow them to register by extending the date of registration.

Opposing the plea to postpone, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, said 2.06 lakh doctors have registered for the exams, and “what we are seeking to espouse is the rights of these doctors”. She said any delay may have a cascading effect on other years, other courses, super specialty courses as well as patient care.

Bhati said the country had suffered from the pandemic, “and we are trying to put the schedule back on the track”.

She said deliberations were held at the ministry level and it was decided on May 10 that in the public interest and the interest of medical education, the exam should not be postponed.