SC says deemed varsities under NEET ambit, orders centralised counselling

New Delhi: Clearing the confusion over admission to deemed universities in Maharashtra, the Supreme Court ordered centralised counselling for all unfilled medical seats in the state.

The apex court directed that second or third counselling for the MBBS/BDS courses would be conducted as a joint exercise by a committee comprising officials from Maharashtra government and representatives of the deemed universities.

“In so far as second or third counselling is concerned, that shall be a joint exercise which means that it shall be done by the Committee of the State Government which shall include one representative each from these universities. The respondent universities shall nominate their respective representatives forthwith,” a bench comprising Justices A.K. Sikri and L. Nageswara Rao said.

The court clarified that it will be a centralised for all the deemed universities counselling and not university-wise counselling and the students will be enrolled by taking into account the combined list of those who got themselves registered with the State Government as well as universities.

“This shall ensure admission of those who are more meritorious but left out, but are interested in taking admission in the respondent universities,” the bench said.

The apex court, however, clarified that the admissions which have already been made to various colleges and universities would not be affected. It directed that all the records pertaining to admissions with the universities shall be handed over to the committee of the state government for counselling purposes.

The court, however, extended the time limit for completion of the admission process till 7 October from 30 September and directed Maharashtra and the universities to ensure that all medical seats are filled within the stipulated time.

The apex court vacated the stay order by the high court allowing deemed universities to conduct admissions to medical courses and said it “shall not continue for future years”. “This, however, will not disturb the admissions already made by the respondent universities. This direction is given keeping in view that respondents are deemed universities... “Insofar as admission process of subsequent years is concerned, it shall depend upon the outcome of the central issue raised in the writ petitions,” the bench said.

The high court had on 30 August stayed the Maharashtra government’s decision mandating centralised counselling for the students who appeared for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) this year for medical and dental courses. It had allowed the deemed universities in Maharashtra to hold their own counselling sessions for the admissions.

Private deemed universities running medical and dental colleges, had moved the HC against a government resolution which provides for centralised counselling for admissions.

The HC had stayed the mandatory common counselling, but made it clear that the deemed universities shall admit students strictly on the basis of the ranking in NEET.