Expert panel to audit NEET-PG admission system, Centre informs Supreme Court
New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that it has constituted an expert committee headed by the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) to examine issues arising out of the challenge to the reduction of qualifying cut-off percentiles for the NEET-PG 2025-26 examination.
A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the decision to drastically lower the qualifying cut-off percentiles for postgraduate medical admissions.
Appearing for the Union government, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati submitted that the expert committee has been constituted in compliance with the apex court’s earlier directions and sought eight weeks’ time to complete the exercise and submit its report. “We have set up a committee as per your lordships’ directions. We will do the exercise and submit a report,” ASG Bhati told the apex court.
When the Justice Narasimha-led Bench sought details regarding the composition of the committee, the ASG said that the DGHS would chair the panel, which comprises 11 other members.
“Your Lordships had directed that an internal audit be done and solutions be found out,” she added.
Taking on record the office order dated July 23 issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the apex court recorded that it relates to the constitution of an expert committee.
Asking how much time would be required for the exercise, the Justice Narasimha-led Bench was informed that the committee would need eight weeks to submit its report.
Recording the submission, the Supreme Court directed the committee to invite suggestions from various stakeholders and, after detailed consideration, submit its report within eight weeks.
“The committee will call for suggestions from various stakeholders and, after detailed consideration, submit a report within eight weeks,” the top court said, while posting the matter for further hearing after eight weeks.