No mop-up counseling for All India Quota: Kerala High Court dismisses plea seeking third round of counseling

The Kerala High Court has dismissed petitions filed by candidates in the NEET rank list seeking a directive to the Medical Counselling Committee to conduct third counselling/allotment or mop-up counselling for admission to the MBBS seats in All India Quota.

National Medical Commission submitted that the third round of counselling was not intended or permitted by the Supreme Court, for admission to All India Quota.The court observed that it was seen that a third counselling/allotment or mop-up counselling was not envisaged for admission to All India Quota in any of the judgments of the Apex Court.The petitioners submitted that many States had failed to complete their first allotment in the 85 per cent State quota before the completion of the second allotment of the All India Quota. Only if the first allotment towards the State quota was completed before the finalization of the second allotment to the 15 per cent of All India Quota, the students who opt for the State seats could find a place in the allotment towards the AIQ.

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) had completed the first and second allotment respectively on November 5 and 27 respectively. The petitioner pleaded that a third allotment or a mop-up allotment be conducted so that the eligible candidates like the petitioners, who secured high marks in NEET (UG) would get an effective opportunity to participate in the admission process for the All India Quota.