India
Supreme Court refuses to entertain plea for EWS quota in NEET-PG
New Delhi, Feb. 14 (PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea seeking clarification on the applicability of Economically Weaker Section (EWS) criteria of INR 8 lakh in NEET-PG 2022-23 saying it is seized of the matter and whatever it decides will be applicable.
A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Surya Kant said, “We have not stalled the process of determining the EWS criteria for next academic year. We have said EWS quota will be as per our order. We have kept the matter in March for disposal. The process cannot stop. Whatever we will decide will apply”.
It allowed the writ petition filed by one Varun Dileepbhai Bhatt and others but granted liberty to file an intervention application in the pending matter. Senior advocate Arvind Datar, appearing for the students, said that they need clarification on the applicability of the EWS criteria as same norms are applied for the next academic year.
Advocate Charu Mathur, also appearing for the students, said the petitioners have sought an extension of the deadline for edit option in the online forms with respect to the EWS norms.
The bench said it cannot grant any such extension of the edit window and if the authorities have taken a call, then it should be as it is. “Whatever happens in the matter, it will govern, because that’s our jurisdiction under Article 32,” it said.
Mathur said the authorities have not mentioned in the prospectus about the case pending before the top court.
The bench said that why should the prospectus mention so and added, “When the Supreme Court is seized of the matter, it will give directions”.
The bench also refused to advance the listing of the main matter saying it is listed in the third week of March.
The bench, while listing the matter in the third week of March said, “as a result, we allow the implementation of EWS reservation in AIQ seats in NEET UG and PG seats for the academic year of 2021-2022. The EWS category shall be identified in view of the criteria in Office Memorandum of 2019″.