Tanvi Pilane
Published on: March 22, 2022 11:35 IST
A Bench of Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice Surya Kant of the Supreme Court on Monday Posted for the Final Disposal of the Petitions challenging the applicability of Economically Weaker Section (EWS) criteria of Rs 8 lakh in NEET-PG 2022-23.
The Bench stated, “We will post these matters for final disposal in the month of April. We now have to hear the matter and everything is there in law. Parties concerned shall file their detailed written submission. We have upheld the 27 percent OBC quota and now we will confine ourselves to Economically Weaker Section (EWS) criteria only.”
Advocate Arvind Datar, appearing for the MBBS doctors submitted that the examination will be held in May and the results will be announced after that.
The Plea seeking clarification on the applicability of the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) criteria of 8 lakh in NEET-PG 2022-23 was not entertained by the Supreme Court on February 14th as the Court said that it had seized of the matter and whatever it decides will be applicable.
The Court stated, “We have not stalled the process of determining the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) criteria for next academic year. We have said the EWS quota will be as per our order. We have kept the matter in March for disposal. The process cannot stop. Whatever we will decide will apply.”
A three-member committee of Ajay Bhushan Pandey, former finance secretary, VK Malhotra, member secretary, ICSSR, and Sanjeev Sanyal, Principal Economic Adviser to the Centre, was constituted by the Central Government to revisit the criteria for determining the Economically Weaker Section (EWS).
The Committee, in its report, said that the current gross annual family income limit for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) of 8 lakh or less may be retained.
In other words, only those families whose annual income is up to Rs 8 lakh would be eligible to get the benefit of the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) Reservation.
The Central Government stated that the recommendations of the panel retain the current Gross Annual Family Income limit for defining EWS at 8 lakh or less will be accepted by it.
Also read: