In a major setback to the state government of Maharashtra, the Bombay High Court has granted an interim stay on the resolution of the government demanding centralized admission procedure for MBBS and BDS courses based on NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) scores.

The deemed universities will now be able to conduct their own separate counselling sessions. The students will have to apply to these colleges according to their All India NEET rankings. On the basis of rankings, the students will get their seats allotted to different colleges.

Though the bench of justices in Bombay High Court have agreed to give permission to deemed universities to conduct their separate counselling, it has made it necessary for them to take admission only based on NEET scores. The Maharashtra government had passed a general resolution on August 21, under which it ordered the deemed universities to come under common centralized counselling.  

The bench of justices Shantanu Kemkar and MS Karnik stated yesterday that the state has no right to flex its muscles over the deemed university admission and counselling process, as it is part of their statutory rights. Around 1,675 seats are in offer at the deemed university colleges in MBBS and BDS courses across Maharashtra, for which over 20,000 students have registered.

Although, the state has legislative powers to pass a general resolution like this, constitutionally it doesn’t hold ground, said Justice M S Karnik. The judgment will pave way for the deemed universities to begin their admission procedure soon.

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