NEET SS 2021: Delhi HC issues notice to Centre on plea challenging eligibility criteria

The Delhi High Court has issued notice to the Centre over a petition on NEET SS 2021. The petitioner, Dr Snigdha Kamini, an OCI cardholder, had challenged the provision in the eligibility criteria for NEET SS 2021.

The Delhi High Court has issued notice to the Centre over a petition challenging a provision in the eligibility criteria for NEET SS 2021. The petition was filed by an overseas citizen of India (OCI) named Dr Snigdha Kamini. A division bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti has asked the Central government and National Board of Examinations (NBE) to file a reply to the petition. The court has posted the matter for the next hearing on September 23.

As per the reports, the petitioner who did both MBBS and MS from India has objected to the addition of the words after "such other tests" in para (4)(ii) (including the proviso) in the notification dated March 4, 2021, issued by the Central government. Para 4 in the NEET SS notification deals with the non-resident Indians.

It states that with regarding the non-resident Indians appearing for the NEET, JEE Main, JEE Advanced, or such other tests to make them eligible for admission only against any non-resident Indian seat or any supernumerary seat, provided that the OCI cardholder shall not be eligible for admission against any seat reserved exclusively for Indian citizens. The petitioner who intends to pursue M Ch Course in Surgical Oncology and has been preparing for the last few years says that the impugned notification would virtually halt her career progression in India. "Until last year, OCIs were eligible to appear for the super speciality entrance exams conducted by the respondent NBE," the petitioner was quoted as saying. The plea filed through advocate Shivendra Singh has sought to declare the words after "such other tests" in para (4)(ii) (including the proviso) unconstitutional and void. The petitioner has also appealed to the court to restrain the respondents from enforcing or giving effect to the words after "such other tests".

NEET SS 2021 exam is scheduled to be held on November 13 & November 14. The registration for NEET SS 2021 will start on September 14. The last date for registration is October 4.

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