NEET PG counseling postponed as center to reconsider income limit for EWS category

A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant and Vikram Nath was informed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that a committee would be constituted to determine the criteria for EWS and it would take four weeks.

Mehta said the Center will constitute a committee with a time frame of four weeks to find out the criteria for determining the EWS category.

Mehta told the apex court that the counseling of NEET (PG) is postponed for four weeks till the committee decides on the criteria for determining the EWS category.

The Supreme Court told the Center that its EWS quota is a very efficient and progressive type of reservation and states should support the Center in its endeavour.

The apex court was hearing petitions challenging the July 29 notice of the Center and the Medical Consultative Committee (MCC) providing 10% for EWS category in NEET admissions.

29 July notice provides for 27% reservation for OBC and 10% for EWS category in 15% UG and 50% PG All India Quota seats (MBBS/BDS and MD/MS/MDS) from the current academic session 2021-22 . ,

Earlier, in an affidavit filed by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment before the apex court, it justified the decision to set limits 8 lakh annual income prescribed for determination of EWS category.

The ministry said the principle of fixing the amount is reasonable and in line with Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Constitution.

The apex court had on October 21 asked the Center whether it would like to reconsider the annual income limit of Rs 8 lakh prescribed for determining the EWS category.

The top court had clarified that it was not coming under the purview of the policy but was only trying to ascertain whether constitutional principles were followed.