‘Can’t treat doctors like football…’ SC lashes out at Center over last minute change in NEET exam pattern

New Delhi
The Supreme Court has made a strong remark in the matter of last minute changes in the exam pattern for admission to the NEET super specialty course of PG doctors. While hearing the matter, the apex court has said that doctors should not be treated like football. The exam pattern cannot be changed at the last moment. We cannot leave doctors at the mercy of insensitive bureaucrats.

The Supreme Court had issued a notice to the Center and the National Board of Examination (NBE) in this matter and asked them to file a reply. In this, PG doctors have challenged the decision of NBE to change the exam pattern at the last minute for admission to the NEET super specialty course.

Justice DY Chandrachud has made strict remarks against NBE and NMC (National Medical Commission) in this matter. The court said that you should contact the Health Ministry in this matter and come up with a solution. Otherwise you should be ready to get the structure passed from the Supreme Court.

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Why can’t it be effective from next year?
The Supreme Court said that the changes made in the exam pattern cannot be made effective from next year. When the students have already started their preparations then why the pattern was changed in the middle. PG doctors had already started preparing for the super specialty course. At the last moment, the exam pattern has been changed. Why is it not being done from next year?

Supreme Court asked NBE and NMC what are you doing? We are dealing with life related matters of doctors. You issue a notice and change the pattern. Then the counsel for NBE said that necessary approval was taken for this.

Don’t treat doctors like football
Justice Chandrachud was not satisfied with this answer and said that you should not treat doctors like a power game football. You hold a meeting on this issue and fix your house. We cannot leave doctors at the mercy of insensitive bureaucrats.

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The Bench has asked NBE and NBC to get in touch with the Health Ministry and get their house in order. This is a very important subject for their (doctors) career. You can’t make such a change at the last minute. Supreme Court said that exam pattern is study wise and what will happen if you change it?

Supreme Court warns NBE and NMC that if authorities do not come up with a solution, we will pass the structure. You should deal sensitively with young doctors. You can’t deal with their life like this. If we are not satisfied with the decision of the meeting, then you should be ready for a structure from the Supreme Court. The next hearing will now take place next week.

What is the matter?
An application has been filed in the Supreme Court on behalf of 41 doctors saying that the National Board of Examination had given the exam schedule in July and the exam is to be held on November 13 and 14. Meanwhile, by issuing a notification on August 31, it has been said that the pattern of the exam will be changed. There is a challenge to change the pattern at the last moment of the exam. It has been said in the petition that for the last three years, the candidates were preparing on the earlier pattern and the pattern was changed at the time of examination.