- Assam
- PG Counseling
Gauhati High Court Directs Assam Govt to Revise NEET-PG 2024 Counseling, Allocates 371 Seats
Guwahati, Feb 8
In a landmark decision, the Gauhati High Court has directed the Assam State Government to revise the NEET-PG 2024 counseling process by allocating the original 288 State Quota medical seats, along with a 25% increase to implement the 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). This brings the total number of available seats to 371 for the first round of counseling
Court Order and Directives
The order was issued by Justice Michael Zothankhuma, who emphasized that the revised 371 seats must be allocated in compliance with the State’s reservation policy, ensuring the proper implementation of the EWS reservation quota.
This ruling came in response to two writ petitions filed separately by candidates from both reserved and unreserved categories, who demanded a corresponding 25% increase in PG medical seats to accommodate the 10% EWS reservation.
Key Highlights of the Court’s Ruling:
🔹 First Round of Counseling Restarted: The court ruled that the first round of counseling must be restarted to allow the most meritorious candidates to have the best choices of seats and subjects. However, the seats already allotted in Round 1 (November 18, 2024) will remain unchanged for those who have secured admissions.
🔹 Additional Choice for Round 1 Candidates: Candidates who have already secured a seat in Round 1 will be given an opportunity to choose a different seat/course/subject from the newly available 83 seats, as per the updated seat matrix.
🔹 Cancellation of Round 2 Results: The selection and allotment of seats in the second round of counseling (December 12, 2024, onwards) has been set aside. The court reasoned that uncertainty regarding seat availability for different categories necessitated a fresh second round of counseling.
🔹 New Timeline for NEET-PG 2024 Admissions: The revised second round of counseling will start afresh, ensuring a fair and transparent process for all eligible candidates. The last date for joining PG medical courses in Assam has been set for February 28, 2025.
Legal Representation and Court Observations
Senior advocates KN Choudhury and BD Konwar represented the petitioners, advocating for fair seat distribution and proper EWS implementation. The court recognized that the previous counseling rounds did not adequately consider EWS reservations, prompting the need for seat restructuring and a fresh round of admissions.
The court also acknowledged the importance of merit-based admissions, ensuring that candidates with higher ranks have a fair opportunity to secure seats in their preferred specializations.
Impact on NEET-PG 2024 Aspirants
This ruling is a major victory for NEET-PG 2024 candidates in Assam, particularly those from the EWS category, who will now benefit from additional seats. However, the cancellation of Round 2 results means that candidates who had secured seats in that round will have to reapply and compete again.
This development also raises concerns about delays in the academic session and potential confusion among students. However, with the court’s directive, the revised process aims to be more transparent and equitable for all.
