From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday held that the patients’ care and treatment is paramount while rejecting a plea to postpone the NEET-PG 2022-23 examination scheduled on May 21 after three years of dislocation due to the devastating Covid pandemium.
Noting that the NEET-PG is already delayed by four months and there are just two batches of senior resident doctors serving in hospitals across the country, a Bench headed by Justice D Y Chndrachud said further delay would have serious consequences and cascading effect on the patient care in hospitals.
Moreover, he said the decision to hold the exam on May 21 is a policy decision in which there is a little scope for the courts to interfere unless primafacie it suffers from any legal infirmity or arbitrations.
The Bench, which also comprised Justice Surya Kant, said 2,06,541 doctors have registered for the exam; they have studied for it taking time out from their busy engagements of hospital duties and delaying the exam would “create chaotic situation and uncertainty.”
The petitioners – a group of doctors — had sought the postponement of NEET-PG 2022-23 exams by eight weeks on the ground that counselling for NEET-PG 2021-22 is still underway and the mop-up round will be completed only today (May 13).
They sought to impress upon the court that those who approached it are not the only one seeking the deferment of exam, but there are others as well who are knocking at the doors of the Health Ministry, and if the exams were postponed by eight weeks, 2,06,541 doctors will get more time to prepare for it.
