HC stays Maha govt order for counselling for medical courses

The Bombay High Court today stayed the Maharashtra government's decision mandating centralised counselling for the students who appeared for the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) this year for medical and dental courses.
This allows the deemed universities in Maharashtra to hold their own counselling sessions for the admissions.
Private deemed universities running medical and dental colleges, had moved the HC against a government resolution (GR) which provides for centralised counselling for admissions.
A division bench of Justices S S Kemkar and M S Karnik stayed the mandatory common counselling, but made it clear that the deemed universities shall admit students strictly on the basis of the ranking in NEET.

The government's contention is that centralised admissions process makes it easier for students as they don't have to apply separately to each college.
There are around 1,600 medical seats in deemed universities in Maharashtra.
Final hearing on the petition would start after four weeks.