The Centre on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that in the interest of students, it has decided to implement changes in the pattern of the NEET-Super Speciality (SS) examination from the academic year 2022-23. This means, the revised pattern will be implemented from the year 2022 and this year's examination will be conducted as per the 2020-scheme.

A Bench of Justice D Y Chandrachud, Justice Vikram Nath and Justice BV Nagarathna recorded the submission of Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati and disposed of pleas of students who challenged the Centre's earlier decision to implement changes in the examination pattern of NEET-Super Speciality from this year.

The ASG informed the Bench that the examination will be conducted as per the 2020-scheme. The decision was taken by the Center after consultation with the National Board of Examination (NBE) and the National Medical Commission (NMC).

While disposing of the plea, the Bench said that it is leaving the question of the validity of the changes made in the pattern of the examination open.

On Tuesday, the Apex Court had given one last chance to the Centre to take a call on reversing the changes made to the NEET-Super Speciality examination 2021.

The Supreme Court was not satisfied with the justification given by the Centre, National Board of Examination (NBE) and the National Medical Commission (NMC) for making the last-minute changes, after the notification for the examination was issued in July.

The Court was hearing a batch of pleas by 41 post-graduate doctors and others who had challenged the last-minute changes made to the syllabus after the notification was issued on July 23 for the test to be held on November 13 and 14. However, now the exam has been postponed to January 10-11, 2022. The government had contended before the Court that the revised pattern has been prepared to ensure that super specialty seats will not go vacant.



With PTI Inputs