Maharashtra’s State CET Cell faces criticism for delaying the addition of 100 new MBBS seats. This delay has potentially denied students admitted in Round 3 an opportunity to upgrade their college choices. The state currently lists 484 MBBS and BDS seats as vacant for the NEET UG stray vacancy round. Eligible students can fill their choices until November 13 . Allotment results are scheduled for release on November 14 .
Vacant Seats and New Additions
A total of 484 MBBS and BDS seats are available in Maharashtra for the NEET UG stray vacancy round. The State CET Cell recently added 100 new MBBS seats to the final counselling round under the state quota. These seats are distributed across two institutions:
- 50 seats at the established Ashwini Rural Medical College, Solapur.
- 50 seats at the newly approved Malati Medical College, Akola.
Delayed Seat Approval Fuels Criticism
The National Medical Commission (NMC) announced the inclusion of these 100 additional seats on October 29 . However, the State CET Cell delayed their approval and integration into the counselling process. Medical education counsellor Sudha Shenoy, Director of SCICON Careers, highlighted this delay. She stated the state authorities “took their own time” to approve the seats.
Shenoy emphasized that NMC approval for the colleges arrived well before Round 3 counselling. The State CET Cell did not add these seats at that time due to internal approval delays. This timing meant the seats became available only for the final stray vacancy round, after many students had already secured admissions.
Impact on Round 3 Students
The delayed addition of these 100 seats constitutes a “gross injustice” to students who joined allotted seats in Round 3, according to Shenoy. These students could have desired these specific seats, especially those at Ashwini Rural Medical College, an established institution. Its intake capacity increased significantly with the additional 50 seats.
Meritorious students with borderline ranks often settle for lower-ranked colleges or opt for BDS courses by the third round. Shenoy noted that students with lower ranks may now secure these higher-demand or newly added seats in the current vacancy rounds. This situation reverses the natural order of merit-based admissions.
Call for Fairer Admission Process
Shenoy advocates for a fair admission process, requesting the State CET Cell to allow all eligible students to participate in the stray vacancy round. She suggests offering at least an option to choose from the two colleges with newly added seats. This, she argues, ensures “natural justice” and prevents students from needing court intervention.
The Supreme Court ruling generally prohibits upgradation after Round 3. However, Shenoy referenced a recent order by the Admission Regulating Authority (ARA). This order allowed a Dalit student to participate in the Maharashtra NEET UG stray vacancy round after facing excessive fee demands from SSPM Medical College. Shenoy argues for a “sympathetic” extension of such consideration to all eligible students impacted by the delayed seat additions.
Stray Vacancy Round Details
The choice filling facility for the Maharashtra NEET UG stray vacancy round concludes on November 13 . Students must complete their choices by this deadline. The Maharashtra NEET UG stray vacancy allotment results are scheduled for declaration on November 14 .