The Bombay High Court (HC) has refused a private medical college's request to conduct institution-level counselling for filling vacant MBBS seats during the ongoing Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 counselling. The court ruled that the plea was premature since the admission process is still underway. However, it acknowledged that manual counselling could take place after the centralised admission process (CAP) and suggested the college approach the Supreme Court if seats remain unfilled.
- The HC denied Parbhani Medical College's plea for institute-level counselling during NEET UG 2026 admissions.
- Manual counselling after centralised rounds is allowed; Supreme Court can be approached if seats remain vacant.
- State government ended institutional counselling due to complaints about admission denial and excessive fees.
- 145 MBBS seats in private colleges and 100 in private universities remain vacant in Maharashtra.
- New rules require all admissions, including stray vacancy rounds, to be conducted online through CAP.
What is institute-level counselling and why was it requested?
Institute-level counselling allows private medical colleges to fill vacant MBBS seats independently, outside the centralised admission process managed by the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test Cell (Maha CET Cell). Parbhani Medical College (PMC) filed a plea seeking this option, fearing it might have unfilled seats after the regular counselling rounds. PMC had 20 out of 150 UG seats unclaimed after three rounds, although seven were later filled in the first stray vacancy round.
Why did the Bombay High Court reject the plea?
The court found the plea premature since the admission process is ongoing, with multiple stray vacancy rounds still planned. It noted that PMC could still fill its seats through these rounds. The HC also recognized legal precedents allowing manual counselling but emphasized that the current process must conclude first. The court advised PMC to approach the Supreme Court if seats remain vacant after all rounds.
What reasons did the state government give for ending institute-level counselling?
The Maharashtra government discontinued institute-level counselling due to numerous complaints about admission denial and excessive fee demands by private medical colleges during manual counselling in previous years. The Admission Regulating Authority (ARA) highlighted difficulties in managing separate waitlists for each college and the risk of unfair selection, as higher-merit candidates might be selected by multiple colleges but unable to join all.
How many MBBS seats remain vacant in Maharashtra private medical colleges?
As of now, 145 out of 3,299 MBBS seats in private medical colleges and 100 out of 450 seats in two state private universities are still vacant. One petitioner college, Vedantaa Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) Palghar, accounts for 67 of these vacant seats.
What new rules govern NEET UG admissions in Maharashtra?
The state government introduced new rules in July and recently for both undergraduate and postgraduate medical admissions. These rules mandate that the entire admission process, including stray vacancy rounds, be conducted online through the centralised admission process (CAP) by the competent authority. Additionally, candidates who fail to confirm admission to allotted seats in regular counselling are barred from applying for admissions for the next two years. This aims to prevent seat blocking and reduce vacancies.
What are the implications for private medical colleges and students?
Private medical colleges like PMC are concerned about financial losses if seats remain vacant due to the lack of institute-level counselling. Students and activists support the centralised process to ensure transparency and merit-based admissions. The new rules seek to balance fairness, reduce malpractice, and streamline admissions through online processes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can private medical colleges conduct their own counselling rounds during NEET UG admissions?
A: Currently, private colleges in Maharashtra cannot conduct separate institute-level counselling during the NEET UG admission process. Manual counselling is only allowed after the centralised admission rounds are complete, subject to approval by higher courts.
Q: Why did the state government stop institute-level counselling?
A: The government stopped institute-level counselling due to complaints about admission denial and excessive fees charged by some private colleges during manual counselling rounds in previous years.
Q: How many MBBS seats are still vacant in Maharashtra private medical colleges?
A: As of now, 145 MBBS seats in private medical colleges and 100 seats in private universities remain vacant in Maharashtra.
Q: What are the new rules for NEET UG admissions in Maharashtra?
A: The new rules require all admissions, including stray vacancy rounds, to be conducted online through the centralised admission process (CAP). Candidates who do not confirm admission in regular counselling are barred from applying for two subsequent years.
