Vijayawada: Quota conundrum holds up Neet-PG notification

Vijayawada: With several hurdles remaining, the notification for the Neet-PG counselling in the state is expected to be issued later than last year. The government is still to take a decision on the allocation of seats for non-locals.

The government had earlier scrapped the 15 per cent non-local quota. Affected students moved the court which directed the state government to implement the measure from the 2019-20 academic year.

Adding to this is the 10 per cent quota announced by the Central government for the upper caste poor, and the state government’s promise to give Kapus five per cent reservations from it.

Before the announcement of the elections, a flurry of transfers of officials was witnessed in the state. This led to the administration coming to a grinding halt. No official was willing to take action on any issue that was not ‘very urgent’.

Students are unable to obtain caste certificates, which are sought at the time of counselling. According to officials, these certificates will only be issued after the elections are over.

Moreover, there was confusion among officials over implementation of Kapu reservations as there is no clarity in the GO on whether the quota is applicable for the entire community or only for the economically backward among them.

Based on the fact that the Central government announced 10 per cent reservations only for the economically backward, the state government can allow reservations only for poor Kapus and not for all, opined an official. However, he was not sure of the GO. It would become a big obstacle to the Neet-PG state quota counselling.

Counselling for the national pool of Neet-PG has started and will end on March 25. After completion of the first phase of counselling for the national pool, the state will have to take up counselling.

But, till date, the Dr NTR University of Health Sciences has not decided whether to issue the notification.

Speaking to this correspondent, health varsity Vice-Chancellor Dr C.V. Rao said: “The Neet-PG counselling for the state pool will be conducted as per schedule that is after completion of the counselling for the national pool.”

He opined that after taking permission of Election Commission, the government will come out with clear instructions of the latest reservation process and the university will allocate seats.