NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday accused the National Medical Council, National Board of Examinations and the health ministry of “playing football” with the lives of young doctors aspiring to do their specialisation by changing the pattern of questions for the NEET-Super Speciality Examination more than a month after notifying the exam date.
As many as 41 doctors through advocate Javedur Rehman had moved SC alleging that though the examination dates of November 13 and 14 was notified on July 23, the NMC/NBE issued a notification on August 31, arbitrarily changing the pattern of questions and subject-wise distribution of marks to jeopardise the future of young doctors. Appearing for the petitioners, senior advocate Shyam Divan said months of preparation for NEET-SS has been affected by the decision of the authorities to change the rules of the game much after the play has begun.
A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and B V Nagarathna came down heavily on NMC, NBC and the ministries of health as well as social welfare for arbitrarily effecting the change and asked additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati, NBE counsel Maninder Singh and NMC counsel Gaurav Sharma to ask all the authorities involved in the change of question pattern to urgently hold a meeting and “put their house in order”.
Justice Chandrachud-led bench said, “We are putting you to notice: If we are not satisfied with the reasons for effecting the change in question pattern mid-way, then we will pass strictures against the authorities.”
When Singh said the change was in the offing for a long time and that the notification was issued as soon as all necessary clearances were received, the bench said, “The change in pattern could have been made effective from next year. The students have been preparing for months in advance. Why would you change the rules of the game mid-way? Tell the authorities that we are very dissatisfied with the way they are playing with the lives of young doctors.”
“Don’t treat the young doctors like footballs just because you have the power (to change the examination pattern). Hold a meeting this week and put your house in order. We will not permit you to play with the lives of young doctors,” the bench said, adding, “The pattern of preparation for any examination depends on the pattern of question papers. If you (authorities) change it mid-way, then it will leave many ruffled.”
“Since 2018, a pattern of questions and subject-wise distribution of marks has been followed — 60% of questions from the area of specialisation and 40% from feeder courses. How could you suddenly make it 100% from the general medicine subject?” the bench asked.
The NMC counsel said that it was to ensure that not many seats in the super speciality courses go vacant. The reply, however, did not satisfy the SC, which asked for a better explanation by next Monday with a warning that if a plausible explanation did not come, it would pass strictures.
