SC frowns upon govt decision to change pattern for NEET-PG

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 5

Frowning upon the sudden change in examination pattern for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) PG Super Speciality exam 2021, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said heavens would not fall if the implementation of the new pattern was deferred by a year.

“It sends a signal that medical profession and medical regulation have also become a businesshellip; We hope better sense prevails,” a Bench of Justices DY Chandrachud said while hearing a petition filed by 41 PG qualified doctors challenging the last-minute changes in the examination pattern.

Alleging that it was done to favour general medicine candidates, they have challenged the August 31, 2021 announcement about the change. “Just because you have authority, can it be exercised? Would the heavens have fallen if it was done from next year? What would happen if a year’s time is given to students to prepare. Changing the pattern is in the domain of experts but do it in a way experts should do, not in this fashion,” the Bench commented as it wondered why the present pattern couldn’t be allowed to continue for this year.

The Bench, which had on September 20 issued notice to the Centre, National Board of Examination and National Medical Commission on the petition challenging alleged last minute changes in the syllabus for the NEET PG Super Speciality Exam 2021 scheduled in November, said grave prejudice will be caused to students if it was enforced from this year.

“Have some concern for the students. What is the hurry? You have an exam pattern, which has held field since 2018, so why change now,” the Bench asked and posted the matter for further hearing on Wednesday.

1.83L appeals pending in Allahabad HC

The SC on Tuesday said it would lay down guidelines to deal with the pendency of criminal appeals in the Allahabad HC, where 7,214 convicts languishing in jails for more than 10 years are awaiting adjudication of their appeals. As of August 2021, there were around 1.83 lakh criminal appeals pending both at the Lucknow and Allahabad Benches of the High Court.