NEET-UG counselling is the process for allotment of seats to successful candidates based on their exam’s score. For all-India quota seats, counselling is conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee constituted under the health ministry. For state quota seats, counselling is conducted by the state counselling committee.
A candidate has to fill out his or her preferred choices of medical colleges; seats are allocated based on their score. Govt has stated in its affidavit that for the first and second round of the counselling, candidates are allowed to change seats as per options exercised by them. “So, if cancellation is done before the beginning of the third round, it will not have any impact on the overall counselling process and allocation of seats,” the affidavit says.
What did Centre’s affidavit say?
In its affidavit submitted to Supreme Court, which is hearing a bunch of petitions, including those seeking cancellation of the NEET-UG exam over an alleged paper leak, govt has stated that the candidature of any student found to be beneficiary of any malpractice will be cancelled at any stage during the counseling process or even afterward.
The affidavit adds that the third round is expected to start in Sept second week. “If one’s candidature is cancelled after the third round, vacant seats can still be offered in subsequent rounds. However, candidates who have already been allocated seats in earlier rounds will not be able to participate in subsequent rounds,” the govt has said.
There are approximately 1.20 lakh undergraduate medical seats in govt and private medical colleges across the country. This year, more than 23 lakh students appeared for the NEET-UG exam that was held on May 5. The results of the exam were declared on June 4.(with ToI inputs)
