NEET PG 2021: Supreme Court Validates the OBC Quota

Today, 7 January 2022, the Supreme Court allowed NEET PG 2021 counselling on EWS, OBC reservation in All India Quota (AIQ) seats. Justice DY Chandrachud said, “We have upheld the constitutional validity of 27 per cent reservation for OBC in NEET PG and UG. For EWS, the 10 per cent will apply for this year.” Later, officials will decide on the EWS quota after the final hearing on 3 March 2022.

A bench of justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna asked the parties to file their written submissions for consideration. “We have been hearing this matter for two days; we must start counselling in the national interest,” the bench said. Later, on Tuesday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the NEET PG 2021 counselling dates delay case, after the Centre on Monday requested to schedule a hearing in the matter, citing “some urgency”. Officials had initially listed the matter for 6 January 2022.

The Supreme Court was hearing a batch of pleas challenging the 29 July notice providing 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and 10% for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category in 15% UG and 50% PG All India Quota seats (MBBS or BDS and MD, MS, MDS) with effect from the academic session 2021-22.