The Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that if the authorities decide to implement the new pattern of postgraduate national qualification cum entrance test-super specialty (NEET-SS) 2021 from next year, heaven will not fall and change will be forced to be considered. Only next year.
A bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachur condemned the central government and the National Examinations Board for making abrupt changes in the NEET-SS 2021 pattern for seemingly non-availability of seats in private medical colleges.
The apex court further commented that it was getting the idea that medical education and medical control had become a business.
The apex court requested the Center and the National Examination Board to consider the changes forcefully from the following year after making adequate arrangements.
The bench observed, “Can it be used (as it were) because you have the authority? If it was done from next year, what would heaven fall? What would happen if students were given one year to prepare? The pattern is in the domain of experts This is not the way experts should do it. Otherwise, it sends a signal that a medical profession and medical control has also become a business. We hope that a better feeling will prevail. “
The argument of the case will continue tomorrow. The court was hearing an appeal by PG doctors who went to the apex court against the last-minute change in the examination pattern of NEET-SS 2021.
The central government yesterday filed an affidavit in the apex court stating that it has decided to suspend PG NEET-SS 2021 for two months which will now be held on January 10-11, 2022 to give adequate time to all candidates. To prepare for the entrance examination under the modified patter.
In an affidavit, it states that the NEET-SS exam pattern was changed to bring more flexibility for students and to ensure that they are tested based on a course they already know.
Stating that it decided to hold the exam in January next year, the affidavit said, “All authorities … also felt and observed that candidates should not feel that they have not been given sufficient time to prepare for the revised exam. Under the circumstances, it was decided that NEET-SS would be postponed for two months and held on January 10-11, 2022 to give all of them ample time to prepare for the entrance exams. Revised scheme. “
The revised pattern will ensure that super specialty seats will not be vacated, it said.
The notification for the test was issued on July 23, 2021, however, another notification was issued on August 31, changing the pattern of the test, with only two months left before the NEET-SS 2021 test to be held on November 13 and 14.
Earlier, the bench had directed the Central Government, National Board of Examinations (NBE) and National Medical Commission (NMC) to make last minute changes in the examination pattern of PG NEET-SS 2021.
Young doctors cannot be at the mercy of “insensitive bureaucrats” and “cannot be treated like football,” the bench said.
“You are exercising this power because you have the power. Please talk to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to see this. Do not consider these young doctors as football in this game of power,” the bench told counselors. On behalf of the government, NBE and NMC.
Considering that the exam syllabus was changed after the announcement of the exam, the bench pulled up the agencies and questioned the last minute curriculum change and asked why it could not be done from next year.
Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for the NBE, said that it was a prudent decision which had been going on for some time, awaiting final approval and we were informed as soon as it was approved.
The petition, filed by 41 qualified postgraduate physicians from across the country seeking to become a super-specialist by cracking NEET-SS 2021, sought guidance to reduce changes in examination patterns.
The petition challenges the government’s move because of its lack of authority as well as its apparent arbitrariness.
It has been alleged that the examination pattern of NEET-SS courses has been changed only in favor of those who have graduated in general medicine at the expense of other branches.
The application states that according to the existing pattern from 2018 to 2020, 60 per cent marks were allotted from super-specialty questions and 40 per cent were distributed for feeder course questions.
“However, under the new pattern, complete questions for critical care super-specialty will be taken from generic drugs,” it added.
This has caused a great deal of inconvenience to the students of other disciplines and the authorities should not have made these changes after the examination notification was issued and the students started their preparation, the doctors argued.
Senior advocate Shyam Diwan, appearing for the doctors, argued that it was a specific policy that could not be changed once the game started.
“They are preparing for the pattern that has been going on for the last three years, especially since at the previous event – 2018 and 2019 when it was proposed to change the pattern / scheme, NEET-SS to ensure there is enough time for students to prepare The scheme was made public about six months before the test, ”the petition said.
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