The Centre on Monday urged the Supreme Court for an urgent listing of cases for tomorrow related to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS)/Other Backward Class quotas in NEET-PG counselling 2021.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted before the bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud: “There is some urgency. If the court can consider having it tomorrow. I have requested Senior Advocate Arvind Datar (for the petitioners) to be here.”
The bench also allowed Datar to file a counter-affidavit to the one filed by the Centre. Justice Chandrachud told the counsels that he will request Chief Justice of India Justice N.V. Ramana if it is possible to constitute another 3-judge bench.
The bench asked the Solicitor General to inform other lawyers involved in the matter and share the copy of the report filed by the Centre in the matter with the petitioners because the hearing may be advanced. The case is otherwise listed for hearing on January 6.
The Centre on Friday filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court regarding EWS reservation in undergraduate and Postgraduate Medical seats. The Centre in the affidavit said the criteria for EWS reservation will remain the same for this academic year and the new rules will come into force from 2022.
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In July last year, the Centre had said that 27 per cent OBC reservation and 10 per cent EWS reservation will be extended to all medical seats under the central pool from 2021-22 academic year. The Supreme Court is hearing a petition that challenges the decision.
The matter was earlier heard by a 3-judge bench of Justices Chandrachud, Surya Kant and Vikram Nath. In the last hearing the Solicitor General told the top court that the Centre will revisit the decision. Resident doctors, who cleared the exam and are waiting to start their PG studies, had staged protests over the delay in counselling.