LEKHRAJ SHARMA Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners are aggrieved of the final merit list dtd. 30/3/2019 prepared by the NEET PG Medical and Dental Admission Counselling Board for counselling for admissions to the post graduate courses in medicine. It has been submitted that in the final merit list on the basis of which the counselling is to be done does not reflect the bonus marks to which the petitioners are entitled as inservice candidates in terms of Regulation 9(IV) of the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000 (hereafter 'the Regulations of 2000'). This has entailed lowering of the petitioners' merit to their grave detriment.

(2.) Mr. RP Singh, AAG appearing for the respondents - NEET PG Medical and Dental Counselling Board on instructions of Dr. Sudhir Bhandari fairly admitted that indeed some error appears to have inadvertently crept in in the final merit list for admissions to PG medical courses. He submitted that the error was occasioned by paucity of time for reasons of a pending litigation relating to the right of inservice candidates working in rural areas to bonus marks under the proviso to Regulation 9(IV) of the Regulations of 2000. It has been submitted that however in view of the obvious errors in the merit list for counselling for admissions to PG Medical Courses, steps are being taken forthwith to rectify it and grant not only to the petitioners but some others similarly wronged bonus marks to which they are entitled to as inservice candidates under the proviso to Regulation 9(IV) of the Regulations of 2000. This the learned AAG submitted would be done by 7.00 PM this evening. He further submitted that for reason of paucity of time as the first round of counselling has to be completed on or before 5/4/2019, the revised merit list will be sent by E-mail, to each candidate by the end of day today informing them that links for submitting their choice of college cum PG course to which admission is sought thereon will be open till 11.00 AM tomorrow i.e. 4/4/2019. Those who are unable to submit their choice of college and subject afresh will be deemed to have opted for the subject and colleges earlier submitted online to the NEET PG Medical / Dental Admission Counselling Board, 2019.

(3.) This court is happy to note that the respondents have taken a reasonable view in the interest of justice in the situation obtaining and of their own making. This has come about for reasons of the cooperative attitude of Dr. Sudhir Bhandari, Principal, SMS Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur. However it would be appropriate to direct that those responsible for the serious error in the drawing of the merit list be identified and requisite action be taken against them to curb in the future this proclivity of carelessness in the discharge of official work - and of substantial importance.