News
Delhi High Court Permits NEET-PG Candidates into SPMD Counselling
The Delhi High Court has ruled that NEET-PG candidates who did not join an allotted Stray Vacancy Round (SVR) seat are still eligible for Sponsored Post MBBS DNB (SPMD) counselling. The court order emphasized that mere seat allotment does not equate to pursuing a postgraduate course.
The Delhi High Court permitted candidates who were allotted seats in the Stray Vacancy Round of NEET-PG 2025, but did not join, to participate in the Sponsored Post MBBS DNB counselling. Justice Jasmeet Singh presided over the bench that set aside communications from the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) dated March 5 and 6, 2026. Advocate Dr. Alakh Alok Srivastava, representing the candidates, argued the denial of participation was arbitrary. The court agreed that not joining a seat in the SVR only results in the security deposit being forfeited, without disqualifying candidates from other counselling processes. The court noted a clear distinction between seat allotment and joining a course, as joining leads to a binding admission.
Key Facts
- The Delhi High Court has allowed NEET-PG candidates who did not join an SVR seat to participate in SPMD counselling.
- The court set aside communications from the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences.
- The ruling clarifies that seat allotment differs from actively pursuing a postgraduate course.
- The court stated that non-joining of a seat in the SVR only forfeits the security deposit.
- The court emphasized the distinction between seat allotment and formally joining a course.
- Advocate Dr. Alakh Alok Srivastava represented the candidates in the writ petitions.
- The ruling permits the petitioners to participate in the SPMD counselling process.
Primary Source
Research Sources
- Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd — Delhi HC: Not joining SVR seat doesn't bar SPMD counselling for NEET