Supreme Court Extends NEET UG Admission Deadline to December 30 to Fill Vacant Medical Seats

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In a significant move, the Supreme Court on Friday extended the deadline for NEET UG admissions till December 30, 2024, as a one-time measure to address the issue of vacant medical seats. A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan passed the order, emphasizing the importance of preventing precious medical seats from going to waste, especially when the country faces an acute shortage of doctors.

The decision came in response to submissions made by Senior Advocate Gaurav Sharma, representing the National Medical Council, who argued for an extension due to the high number of unfilled seats. The Court clarified that this decision is exceptional and should not be treated as a precedent.

Fresh Counselling Ordered

The Court directed the Admission Authorities to conduct a fresh stray/special counselling to fill the remaining vacant seats, ensuring the process is completed by December 30. It specified that admissions could only be made through state admission authorities, and colleges are prohibited from admitting students directly.

“Taking into consideration the peculiar facts and circumstances and further that the precious medical seats should not go in waste, when the country is facing acute shortage of Doctors, we are inclined to extend the period by way of a last chance,” the bench stated.

Key Directives

  1. Special Counselling: Fresh stray/special counselling must be held for vacant seats and completed by December 30, 2024.
  2. No Direct Admissions: Colleges are prohibited from independently admitting students; all admissions must be conducted through state authorities.
  3. Waitlisted Candidates Only: The process must not disturb finalized admissions, and seats will be filled strictly from waitlisted candidates.
  4. NRI Seats: Any vacant NRI seats in the management quota will be converted to the General Category quota.

Background

The order was issued in the case ERA Lucknow Medical College and Hospital vs. State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors. (W.P.(C) No. 833/2024), addressing the issue of hundreds of medical seats remaining vacant even after five rounds of counselling. The extension is expected to ensure these valuable seats are allocated effectively while maintaining procedural integrity.

This extension reflects the Court’s recognition of the critical need to utilize every available resource in the medical education sector to tackle the country’s doctor shortage.

Case Title: ERA Lucknow Medical College and Hospital vs. State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors.
Case No.: W.P.(C) No. 833/2024
Next Steps: Fresh counselling and admissions must be finalized by December 30, 2024.

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