 program at an Unani College. The Supreme Court will hear the case next week.){kind=link}
Eight NEET-qualified students have approached the Supreme Court, requesting the regularization of their provisional admissions to the Bachelor of Unani Medicine & Surgery (BUMS) program at an Unani College. The Supreme Court will hear the case next week.
Background
Initially, the petitioners filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution in the Madhya Pradesh High Court. They sought directions for the Ayush Department in Bhopal to regularize their admissions for the 2022-2023 academic year. Despite passing the NEET 2022 exam, they were not invited for registration and counselling by the authorities.
Petitioners’ Arguments
The students argued that even though they were listed on the merit list, they were not called for registration and counselling by the respondents. They contended that the Ayush Department failed to issue admission letters until the final admission date. As a result, they sought provisional admission from the Unani College, which the college granted. However, the Ayush Department did not confirm these admissions.
Respondents’ Position
The respondents claimed that the students did not register on the online portal before the first counselling session. They described the admissions as “backdoor entries,” asserting that the college lacked the authority to grant provisional admissions. Additionally, they pointed out that the academic session had already ended.
High Court of Madhya Pradesh’s Findings
The Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed the petition, noting that the students did not follow the proper procedures outlined in the National Commission of Indian System of Medicine (Minimum Standard for Under Graduate Unani Education) Regulations, 2020. The court deemed the admissions illegal and expressed concerns over backdoor entries in educational institutions, which compromise the merit-based admission system.
Supreme Court Plea
Displeased with the High Court’s decision, the students took their case to the Supreme Court. They claimed that three of them had registered on the portal but were not called for counseling. They also noted that eight seats remained vacant after the mop-up round of counseling on the final admission date, leading the college to grant provisional admissions.
The students seek a stay on the High Court’s judgment and a directive allowing them to take the BUMS first-year exams starting June 12, 2024.