Two private medical colleges in Maharashtra have approached the Bombay High Court to challenge the state government's decision to discontinue institute-level counselling for medical admissions. This move could affect the ongoing National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) admission processes in the state.
- Institute-level counselling allows colleges to fill vacant seats independently after centralised counselling rounds.
- The state government has introduced new rules requiring all admissions, including stray vacancy rounds, to be conducted online through the centralised admission process (CAP).
- Private colleges argue that they have the legal right to conduct institute-level counselling under existing laws and Supreme Court rulings.
- The Bombay High Court is hearing petitions from Vedantaa Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) Palghar and Parbhani Medical College (PMC) to restore institute-level counselling.
- The outcome will influence how vacant seats in MBBS and MD/MS courses are filled in Maharashtra.
What is institute-level counselling and why is it controversial?
Institute-level counselling is a process where private medical colleges fill their remaining vacant seats after the regular rounds of NEET UG and PG counselling conducted by the state Common Entrance Test (CET) cell. Unlike the centralised admission process (CAP), this method allows colleges to select students independently.
This approach has been controversial because students and activists claim it lacks transparency and oversight. They argue that it enables colleges to bypass merit lists and admit favoured candidates, often in exchange for large sums of money. On the other hand, colleges support institute-level counselling to ensure that no seats remain unfilled.
What changes has the Maharashtra government made to the counselling process?
In 2023 and 2024, the Maharashtra government initially planned to conduct all medical admissions centrally. However, under pressure from colleges and court orders, it allowed institute-level counselling for stray vacancy rounds in previous years.
This year, the government introduced new rules for both UG and PG medical and dental admissions. These rules mandate that all admissions, including stray vacancy rounds, be conducted online through CAP by the competent authority. Additionally, candidates who fail to confirm admission in the regular counselling rounds are barred from applying for two subsequent years. This aims to prevent seat blocking and reduce vacancies.
Why are private medical colleges opposing the new rules?
Private colleges argue that the new rules infringe on their rights under the Maharashtra Unaided Private Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admissions and Fees) Act, 2015. They claim that this law allows them to conduct institute-level counselling and fill vacant seats.
The colleges plan to cite landmark Supreme Court judgments, including TMA Pai Foundation v State of Karnataka, Islamic Academy of Education v State of Karnataka, and PA Inamdar v State of Maharashtra. These rulings recognize the autonomy of unaided private colleges to admit their own students and fill vacancies.
MV Thorat, counsel for the petitioning colleges, stated that if vacancies remain after regular counselling rounds, institute-level counselling must be allowed to fill those seats.
Who are the key petitioners in this legal battle?
The Vedantaa Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) Palghar and Parbhani Medical College (PMC) are the two private medical colleges that have filed petitions before the Bombay High Court. VIMS Palghar, known as the state's first medical college run by a no-profit company rather than a charitable organization, has been a prominent advocate for preserving institute-level counselling. It is also one of the most expensive medical colleges in Maharashtra and often has many vacant seats after regular counselling rounds.
What has been the history of institute-level counselling in Maharashtra?
The controversy over institute-level counselling began in 2023 when the state government allowed private colleges to fill vacant MBBS seats at the end of admissions. However, the National Medical Commission (NMC) later directed colleges to cancel 141 admissions made through this method, citing Supreme Court and NMC guidelines against such institutional admissions.
In subsequent admission cycles in 2024 and 2025, VIMS Palghar secured favorable rulings from the Bombay High Court to continue institute-level counselling despite government opposition.
What impact could the court's decision have on NEET admissions in Maharashtra?
The Bombay High Court's ruling on this matter will likely determine whether private medical colleges can continue institute-level counselling to fill vacant MBBS and MD/MS seats. This decision will affect the transparency, fairness, and seat availability in Maharashtra's medical admission process for the upcoming NEET UG and PG cycles.
