PG medical admissions: Grant incentive marks to in-service candidates, HC tells Maharashtra

According to the PG Medical Education Regulations, 2000, in-service candidates seeking admission to PG medical courses are entitled to 10% of their NEET score as extra marks for every year of service in remote or difficult terrain or rural area, subject to a maximum of 30% marks.

In a major reprieve for in-service candidates who intend to pursue postgraduate (PG) medical education, the Bombay high court (HC) on Tuesday directed the Maharashtra government to expeditiously grant them incentive marks for having served in remote or rural areas of the state.

The Bombay HC has directed the Maharashtra government to expeditiously grant incentive marks to candidates intending to pursue PG medical education, for having served in remote or rural areas of the state. (HT File)

A division bench of justice BR Gavai and justice SK Shinde directed the public health department to identify the remote or difficult terrains and rural areas which qualify for incentive marks to in-service candidates (those serving with the state government or local bodies), within a week.

According to the PG Medical Education Regulations, 2000, in-service candidates seeking admission to PG medical courses are entitled to 10% of their NEET score as extra marks for every year of service in remote or difficult terrain or rural area, subject to a maximum of 30% marks.

The public health department on Tuesday filed an affidavit stating that a report identifying the remote or difficult terrains and rural areas had been submitted on March 8. The affidavit added that the government will notify the areas on April 5, if approved by the poll panel, as the model code of conduct has now come into force. “We do not find that the present issue has anything to do with elections,” the HC said.