The Supreme Court has directed the National Medical Commission (NMC) to examine whether a General Medicine postgraduate seat occupied by a NEET-PG candidate could be converted into one for Radiodiagnosis. The order came in an unusual case where the petitioner had already completed six months of study in Radiodiagnosis before another candidate, with a stronger claim under institutional reservation, became eligible for the lone seat in that specialty.
Calling the situation “extraordinary”, a bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Atul S. Chandurkar said:
“In view of a rather extraordinary situation, the National Medical Commission is directed to consider if the seat occupied by the petitioner in General Medicine can be converted as the seat for Radiodiagnosis. This direction, only to consider, is in view of the fact that the petitioner has spent six months pursuing Radio Diagnosis and also for the reason that he is meritorious.”
At the same time, the Court clarified that it had no intention of disturbing the rights of the other candidate, who is now entitled to the only Radiodiagnosis seat available at the medical institute. The NMC has been asked to seek advice and report back to the Court on August 29, 2025.
Background of the Dispute
The petitioner, a Senior Casualty Medical Officer at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), Imphal, and another candidate, a Senior Resident in Radiodiagnosis at JNIMS, both appeared for NEET-PG 2024.
Initially, the petitioner secured admission to the PG Radiodiagnosis course in the third round of counselling under the quota reserved for JNIMS-sponsored candidates, as per the 2022 Amended Rules and Reservation Scheme. Under these rules, the seat must be surrendered if a Senior Resident later becomes eligible after a reduction in the cut-off percentile.
Although the petitioner had scored higher and was admitted to the Radiodiagnosis course, the subsequent lowering of the qualifying percentile allowed the Senior Resident to become eligible in the Stray Vacancy Round. She then sought the seat, arguing that under the rules, the petitioner was bound to vacate it.
High Court’s Stand
The Manipur High Court initially directed that the petitioner’s admission be shifted to a vacant seat in General Medicine, thereby allowing the Radiodiagnosis seat to go to the Senior Resident. A Division Bench upheld this arrangement, observing that the Senior Resident’s claim was valid and had not been delayed, and that she could not be deprived of her entitlement because of administrative lapses.
The High Court further stated that both candidates’ interests could be safeguarded through this adjustment.
Appeal in Supreme Court
Unhappy with the High Court’s decision, the petitioner approached the Supreme Court. While the top court did not disturb the other candidate’s entitlement, it acknowledged the exceptional circumstances of the petitioner, who had already spent six months in Radiodiagnosis. Hence, it directed the NMC to explore whether his current Medicine seat could formally be reclassified as Radiodiagnosis.
