#NEET: Centralised counselling in Madhya Pradesh, orders Supreme Court [Read order]

In a move that may come as a respite to medical students caught in the tussle between educational institutions and state governments, the Supreme Court today set aside the counselling already conducted for admission to various private medical colleges through NEET..The apex court has now been directed that a fresh centralised counselling be conducted. The matter was heard by a Constitution bench comprising Justices Anil R Dave, AK Sikri, RK Agrawal, Adarsh Kumar Goel and R Banumathi..Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appeared for the private medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh, while Additional Solicitor General PS Patwalia appeared for the State of Madhya Pradesh..Two states – Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra – had moved the court seeking a centralised counselling process for admission of candidates to private medical colleges as well. It was their contention that a centralised admission procedure will benefit students who will not have to attend multiple counselling sessions with often clashing dates..The Madhya Pradesh government had also sought contempt proceedings against private medical colleges for disobedience of the Court’s May 2 judgment..The court turned down the arguments by the private medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh that they had the right to conduct their own counselling..“We observe that mandate of our judgment was to hold centralised entrance test followed by centralised state counselling by the State to make it a one composite process. We, therefore, direct that admission to all medical seats shall be conducted by centralised counselling only by the State Government and none else. .If any counselling has been done by any College or University and any admission to any medical seat has been given so far, such admission shall stand cancelled forthwith and admission shall be given only as per centralised counselling done by the State Government.”.The court, however, turned down the prayer to initiate contempt proceedings against the private colleges..The MP government also submitted that it was ready to undertake fresh counselling, and that the counselling process would be completed by September 30. The court recorded the same in its order..“However, the learned Additional Solicitor General has made a statement at the Bar that the State Government is ready to undertake the entire process afresh and assures that it would be completed by 30th September, 2016 which is the last date for admission. .We also feel that it is a proper course of action inasmuch as it will enable the private institutions to send their representatives at the place of counselling as per the information which may be displayed by the counselling authority forthwith at its website.”.The Maharashtra government’s petition will be heard tomorrow.