The Supreme Court was informed that National Board of Examination has granted the request for change in centres made by two pregnant women for their NEET-PG Exam 2021.
A three-judge bench led by Justices U.U. Lalit, S. Ravindra Bhat and Bela M. Trivedi has disposed of the plea after recording the submissions. Earlier on August 31, the bench had issued notice on a plea filed by candidates who were 7 & 8 months pregnant respectively and directed the authorities to come up with the decision within two days.
During the hearing today, the bench was informed that National Board of Examination has permitted the change of Centre for the petitioners. Further, it requested that there is another petitioner who is in 9th month of pregnancy and she should be allowed to change of Centre. Following which Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh who was appearing for the National Board of Examination has submitted that the request would be allowed.
‘When NEET forms were filled, we were elsewhere’
The Court was hearing the plea filed by Doctors bring to the notice of court, grave and serious problems faced by thousands of NEET-PG aspirants across the country due to absence of any option given to the candidates to them to change their centers for NEET-PG 2021
The petitioners have also obtained provisional/permanent registration. It was submitted that there were serious problems faced by thousands of NEET-PG aspirants across the country due to absence of any option given to the candidates to change their centres for NEET-PG 2021, to be conducted on September 11, 2021, earlier scheduled for April 18, 2021.
It was submitted that the choice of the centre made by the candidates on an earlier occasion was on the basis of their nearest location to the centres of Covid duties and now they are back in their respective places. The centres were chosen before the postponement for four months of the exam.
Senior Advocate Kavin Gulati appeared for the petitioners had submitted, “When we first filled up the form, the exam was scheduled for April 18, 2021 and we were in the last stage of internship and also doing Covid duty. Meanwhile, the exam got deferred…” National Medical Commission had earlier provided choice of state for NEET-PG, he said.
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“The National Medical Commission, in its meeting on 24th has decided to extend the cut off date for a period of internship for the purpose of eligibility and for such candidates, they will be able to choose their state for taking the examination and it shall be allotted as per the availability,” the plea stated.
Gulati pointed out that the first two petitioners are pregnant and prayed for their allowance, to which ASG Maninder Singh said, “I will definitely find some solution for the doctors who are in their stage of advance pregnancy, because what I am instructed is that after finalisation, the Admit cards are in process, which are going to be issued by September 6. I will come back on the next date and inform the court.”
Case Name- Anu Joseph and Ors. Vs National Board of Examination and Ors. WPC 936/2021
Filed by AOR Charu Mathur