The pleas before the top court challenge a notice issued on January 13 by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), which stated that the decision to reduce the qualifying percentile cut-off was taken in accordance with directions issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Under the revised criteria, the cut-off score for the general category is 103, as against 276 earlier. For the SC/ST/OBC category, it is minus 40, down from 235.
According to the petitioners, the decision allows candidates with no demonstrable merit to become eligible for postgraduate medical admissions.
As per the plea, the reduction of minimum qualifying standards in postgraduate medical education is arbitrary, unconstitutional, and violative of Articles 14 (right to equality and against arbitrariness and discrimination) and 21 (right to life) of the Constitution.
According to the petition, the move abolishes merit at the apex level of medical education, institutionalises sub-standard competence, and poses a direct and foreseeable threat to patient safety and public health.
On the last date of hearing, the Court said that the decision to decrease the cut-offs was a serious issued that warranted its interference.
