SC extends time for second counseling for medical courses

The Supreme Court extended till June 8 time for completing the second counseling for admission to post graduate medical science courses.

A vacation bench comprising Justices Markandey Katju and Deepak Verma also directed that the second counseling would start from May 31 and shall be completed by June 8 and all the states and Union Territories shall fill up about 7600 seats on the basis of second counseling.

The Central government has 50 per cent quota in all India post graduate medical science courses while the states have remaining 50 per cent.

Senior counsel Mukul Rohtagi, appearing for the petitioner, contended before the court that many states have not reported to the Union Government about the completion of the second round of counseling which was supposed to be completed in March.

He also pleaded for extension of time for second counseling as the apex court had done last year by extending time for second counseling on May 2, 2008.

According to the petitioner, the states are deliberately not completing the admission process in order to encroach upon the quota of Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) in all India seats for admission in AIIMS and other government medical colleges.