25 Sep 2023 9:24 AM GMT
The Supreme Court on Monday (September 25) dismissed a petition challenging the decision of the Union Government to reduce the cut-off for post-graduate medical college admissions through NEET-PG 2023 exam as zero percentile.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice Manoj Misra and Justice JB Pardiwala dismissed a PIL filed by a lawyer challenging the decision.
Though the petition was not otherwise listed for today as per the cause-list, the bench agreed to take it up at the end of the board after the lawyer mentioned the matter for urgent listing today morning.
"What can a lawyer know about the cut-off for NEET-PG?", CJI Chandrachud asked when the matter was mentioned this morning. When the matter was taken afternoon, CJI asked the counsel, "You are not an aspirant. How are you affected?".
The lawyer replied that this decision will affect the quality of medical services.
When the bench questioned the locus standi of the petitioner, the lawyer urged the Court to take up the matter by removing the petitioner as it concerns health care services. "I'm only saying what kind of health facilities will they give? They'll be super specialists", the lawyer submitted. "If the issue appeals to your lords, the person doesn't matter. It is not on admission, it is on health facilities provided", he urged.
However, the bench expressed disinclination to entertain the matter. Observing that the petitioner has no locus standi to challenge the decision, the bench dismissed the petition.
"You have no locus...absent any interest of the petitioner in this case, the petition is dismissed", CJI pronounced
It was on September 22 that the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) announced the decision of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to reduce the NEET-PG qualifying percentile.
“The qualifying percentile for … NEET PG Counselling 2023 has been reduced to ‘ZERO’ across all categories by MoHFW. In this regard, it is mentioned that Fresh Registration & Choice Filling for Round-3 of PG Counselling will be opened again for candidates who have become eligible after reduction of percentile,” the notice from MCC said.