NEET 2019 counselling: HC stay on mop-up round to continue

Jaipur: The Rajasthan high court postponed the interim hearing in connection with the mop-up round for admission in MBBS and BDS courses till August 22. The stay on the mop-round will be in place till the next date of hearing.

The HC issued an interim stay after hearing the petitions filed by Kashish Mittal, Pradhyuman and others. During the hearing on Monday, lawyers A K Sharma and Tanweer Ahmed argued that there were irregularities in the admission in MBBS and BDS. The additional advocate general RP Singh told the court that the government has requested the medical council of India to extend the date of the second round of counselling.

According to sources, the MCI will by August 21 decide whether to extend the date or not. More than 700 seats remained vacant in government and private medical colleges of Rajasthan after NEET counselling, leading to protest by the candidates and their parents. The first round of counselling was completed on July 26. The second round of counselling was to take place on July 27, but it was postponed to August 1. In the meantime, many students who got admission in medical colleges cleared the counselling in other states. It is being cited as the reason for 705 seats remaining vacant.

Another group of petitioners has also approached the court requesting it to make them a party as their admission was getting affected due to the court stay.