SC Extends Deadline Till October 10 For Concluding Post-Graduate Medical Courses Admissions For The Year 2023-24

It is pertinent to note that the miscellaneous application was filed against a judgment of the Supreme Court dated January 18, 2016. The Court gave its approval to a detailed schedule for the admission process in the various medical courses as per the 'Establishment of Medical College Regulations, (Amendment), 2015'. The 2015 Regulations amended the 1999 Regulations.

A bench of Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice J.B. Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra thus observed, “In the facts and circumstances which have been narrated in the application, particularly the delays which took place in the previous schedule on account of the onset of Covid-19, a one-time extension is granted until 10 October 2023 as proposed by the Director of Health Services”.

AOR Gaurav Sharma appeared for the petitioner, ASG K M Nataraj, and ASG Aishwarya Bhati appeared for the respondents.

In this case, the petitioners earlier had filed the notifications issued by the Medical Council of India with the previous sanction of the Central Government before the Apex Court.

As per the notification, a detailed time schedule for the admission process in MBBS and post-graduation medical courses was stipulated with deadlines.

In the 'Postgraduate Medical Education (Amendment) Regulations, 2015' the time schedule for receipt of applications for opening of postgraduate (super speciality) courses/increase of admission capacity and processing of the applications by the Central Government and Medical Council Of India was:

-All India Quota Seats remaining vacant after last date for joining, i.e. 10th May will be deemed to be converted into state quota.

-Institute/college/courses permitted after 28th February will not be considered for admission/allotment of seats for current academic year.

-In any circumstances, last date for admission/joining will not be extended after 31st May.

Whereas the time schedule for completion of Admission Process for PG (Super specialty) Medical Courses was:

-Institute/college/courses permitted after 31st May will not be considered for admission/ allotment of seats for current academic year.

-In any circumstances, last date for admission/ joining will not be extended after 31st August.

Therefore, while giving the stamp of approval to the schedule, a bench of Justice Dipak Mishra and Justice N.V. Ramana in the 2016 judgment had observed, “The order passed today be sent to the Chief Secretaries of all the States so that they shall see to it that all the stakeholders follow the schedule in letter and spirit and not make any deviation whatsoever. Needless to say the AIIMS and the PGI (for the examination held in July) shall also follow the schedule on letter and spirit”.

Cause Title: Ashish Ranjan & Ors. V Union Of India & Ors.