Supreme Court Upholds NEET as Sole Criteria for MBBS Admissions

The Supreme Court of India recently delivered a significant judgment reinforcing the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) as the sole valid criterion for admission to MBBS courses across India. The ruling came in response to a petition challenging admissions granted by a private medical college through an independent entrance examination.

Background of the Case

The petitioner, Rishabh Choudhary, had secured admission to the MBBS course at C.M. Medical College & Hospital (referred to as ‘the College’) in Chhattisgarh through an entrance exam conducted by the institution in April 2016, known as CGMAT-2016. However, the validity of this admission came under scrutiny following a series of judicial and regulatory developments concerning medical admissions in India.

NEET and the Regulatory Framework

The legal landscape for medical admissions changed significantly when the Medical Council of India (MCI) issued a notification on December 21, 2010, mandating that MBBS admissions must be based solely on NEET scores. This notification was initially struck down by the Supreme Court in 2013 in Christian Medical College, Vellore & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors. However, upon review, the decision was recalled on April 11, 2016, effectively reinstating NEET as the mandatory entrance examination.

Key Arguments by the Parties

The petitioner contended that his admission was valid since the entrance examination conducted by the College had been monitored and approved by the State of Chhattisgarh. The College argued that there was no procedural irregularity in the exam and that the student had been admitted in good faith.

However, the respondents, including the Union of India and the Medical Council of India, maintained that following the Supreme Court’s recall order in April 2016, all medical admissions were to be based solely on NEET. They contended that the College’s independent exam violated the existing regulatory framework.

Supreme Court’s Observations

The Court examined the legality of the admission process and made the following key observations:

“It is quite clear that the examination CGMAT-2016 was conducted by the College on 3rd April, 2016 contrary to the schedule prescribed by the Medical Council of India (and approved by this Court) for holding MBBS entrance examinations.”

The Court further noted:

“Counseling was carried out for the petitioner on 19th April, 2016, which was after the decision of this Court on 11th April, 2016 recalling the 2013 judgment. There was absolutely no occasion for the College to have conducted the counseling after the recall order.”

The judgment reaffirmed the position that NEET was the only valid method for medical admissions:

“The effect of the recall order was that the notification issued by the Medical Council of India on 21st December, 2010 effectively stood revived in the sense that NEET was the only option available for admission to the MBBS course.”

Final Judgment

The Supreme Court dismissed the petition and set aside the petitioner’s admission to the MBBS course, emphasizing the need for strict compliance with NEET regulations. The Court ruled:

“While our sympathies may be with the petitioner and similarly placed students, we cannot go contrary to the orders passed by this Court from time to time only for their benefit.”

The petitioner was, however, granted the liberty to seek legal recourse against the College and the State of Chhattisgarh for any damages or grievances arising from the invalidated admission.

Conclusion

This landmark judgment reaffirms NEET as the exclusive gateway for MBBS admissions in India. It serves as a warning to private institutions attempting to bypass established regulations and highlights the importance of adhering to a standardized admission process for medical education.

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Download Judgment: Rishabh Choudhary vs Union of India & Ors Supreme Court of India Judgment Dated 23-01-2017.pdf