NEET 2016: SC stays Maharashtra High Court's order on deemed universities for medical admissions

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The Supreme Court, on 16 September, stayed an order of the Bombay High Court that allowed Deemed to be Universities to conduct admissions to medical courses.

The apex court stayed the 30 August, 2016, order of the Bombay HC till Monday, 19 September. It further listed the matter before the Constitution bench, where similar matters are pending.

While passing the interim order, a bench comprising of Justices Shiva Kirti Singh and R Banumathi, said that prima facie the HC should not have stayed orders of the Centre and the Maharashtra government.

Meanwhile, the UGC on 15 September, passed a notification stating all Deemed Universities will have to conduct medical admissions on basis of NEET 2016 Merit List.

NEET 2016: All Deemed Universities under NEET's ambit clarifies UGC

According to the apex court: "Prima facie, we are of the view that the High Court should not have stayed the orders issued by the State of Maharashtra and the Union of India dated August 20, 2016 and August 9, 2016 respectively. Hence the impugned order passed by the Bombay High Court is stayed till the next date of hearing.

"We direct both the parties to maintain status quo prevailing as on date. List these matters on Monday i.e. September, 19, 2016 ... before the Constitution Bench where similar matters are pending."

While issuing notice on the appeal filed by Maharashtra government challenging the high court order, the bench said, "We have considered the broader contour of the controversy and the orders by which this court permitted centralised examination through NEET and also the judgment of the Constitution Bench..."

The high court had on 30 August stayed the Maharashtra government's decision, mandating centralised counselling for aspirants who appeared for the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) this year for MBBS and BDS courses. The court allowed deemed universities in Maharashtra to hold their own counselling sessions for the admissions.

Private deemed universities running medical and dental colleges, had moved the High Court against a government resolution(GR) which provides for centralised counselling for admissions.

The High Court had stayed the mandatory common counselling, but made it clear that the deemed universities shall admit students strictly on the basis of the ranking in NEET.

The state government had contended that centralised admissions process makes it easier for students as they do not have to apply separately to each college.

There are around 1,600 medical seats in deemed universities in Maharashtra.

-- With PTI Inputs

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