NEET 2016: SC Orders Centralised Counselling in Maharashtra

The Supreme Court has ordered centralised counselling for all medical seats in the state of Maharashtra. Clearing the confusion over admissions to deemed medical institutions in Maharashtra, the SC has directed the universities to consider NEET 2016 scores for admissions.

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.

"Insofar 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 AK Sikri and L Nageswara Rao said.

Top Medical Colleges in India 2016

The court has however extended the time limit for the completion of the admission process from September 30, 2016 to October 7, 2016. It has also directed Maharashtra and the universities of the state to ensure that all the admissions into medical colleges must be done in the stipulated time.

NEET 2016: Centralised Counselling in Maharashtra

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 August 30 stayed the Maharashtra government's decision mandating centralised counselling for the students who appeared for the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) this year for medical and dental courses. [Read the complete story here.]