Conversion of vacant seats to unreserved category permissible due to lack of OBC, SC, and ST candidates.

1. Heard Mr. Vaibhav Singh, learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard Mr. Vikram Sharma, learned Deputy Government Advocate, appearing for respondent Nos. 1 and 2, Ms. Anubhuti Marhas, learned counsel, appearing for respondent No. 3, Ms. Anmol Sharma, learned Central Government counsel, appearing for respondent No. 4 and Mr. Malay Shrivastava, learned counsel, appearing for respondent No. 5.

2. The petitioners belong to 'OBC' category and they had appeared in the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Text (UG) - 2022 (NEET). The petitioner Nos. 1 and 2 had obtained 98 and 93 marks, respectively, in the said examination.

3. The admitted position is that the petitioners did not register for counselling. The mop - up round, after the first and second round of BDS course counselling, was concluded on 15.12.2022.

4. On 21.12.2022, the respondent No. 3 issued a notification for fresh registration of students for filling up vacant seats in the stray round. Registration was to be done in between 22.12.2022 and 25.12.2022.

5. At that stage, the petitioners wanted to register to participate in the stray round. However, being not successful in registering, this present writ petition is filed.

6. It is stated by the petitioners that their request for registration was not accepted as their marks are below 117 in NEET (UG) - 2022.

7. 117 is the minimum cut - off mark for unreserved category candidates.

8. Relying on the affidavit filed, Mr. Vikram Sharma submits that during the mop - up round, there were no candidates belonging to OBC, SC and ST category seeking admission in private medical colleges, and therefore, by taking recourse to Clause 8.4 of the Chhattisgarh Chikitsa, Dant Chikitsa, Bhutik Chikitsa (Physiotherapy) Snathak Pravesh Niyam, 2018, for short, Niyam, 2018, the vacant seats were converted to unreserved category. It is further submitted by him that in respect of government colleges for the stray round, names were recommended who had earlier registered on the basis of 1:10 as per the judgment rendered in DAR - US - SLAM Educational Trust and Others vs. Medical Council of India and Others. Accordingly, it is submitted that registration was not accepted as for unreserved category, minimum qualifying mark was 117 and petitioners had scored marks less than that in the NEET examination.

9. Clause 8.4 of Niyam, 2018 reads as follows :
(Editors's note : Vernacular matter omitted)

10. Since the submission of Mr. Sharma that there were no candidates belonging to SC, ST and OBC in the mop - up round is not controverted, it was permissible to convert such seats to unreserved category.

11. In view of the above factual scenario, we are of the opinion that no relief can be granted to the petitioners and accordingly, the writ petition is dismissed.
Petition Dismissed.