Non-service doctors protest bonus marks in NEET-PG

I secured rank 1 in the state and rank 126 in the country. In the revised state list in which inservice doctors have been given up to 30% bonus marks, my rank is 194

Non-service doctors of the state on Saturday called a press conference in Jaipur to protest against the state government, which recently awarded up to 30% bonus marks to in-service government doctors in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test – Post Graduate (NEET-PG) 2016.

Although the matter is sub judice in the Supreme Court, the non-service doctors expressed their concern over the merit list issued by the state government on April 8, in which the government has awarded bonus marks up to 30% to the government doctors working at rural primary healthcare centres.

Earlier, on March 20, the state government had said that government doctors working in hilly/desert/tribal areas for two years or in rural areas for three years shall be given 10% bonus marks in the NEET-PG 2016.

According to a clause of the Medical Council of India (MCI) regulations, the government may give 10% to 30% bonus marks to the government doctors working in “remote and/or difficult areas”.

However, in an order issued on April 3, the Rajasthan high court (HC) said that the state government should define the “remote and/or difficult areas” for awarding the bonus marks. Later, overruling the single bench HC order, a division bench of the HC on April 7 ordered the government can award up to 30% bonus marks to in-service doctors. Following the order, the state government issued a fresh merit list on April 8 awarding up to 30% bonus marks to the in-service doctors.

“I secured rank 1 in the state and rank 126 in the country. In the revised state list in which in-service doctors have been given up to 30% bonus marks, my rank is 194,” said Dr Anurag Gupta, a non-service doctor.

The non-service doctors alleged that the government’s decision was a “gross injustice” and “demoralising” to them. They asked the government to revert to the stand of awarding 10% bonus marks to all doctors.

“Earlier, there used to be 50% quota for in-service doctors and 50% quota for non-service doctors. No one raised an objection then, but now it (government move) is heavily tilted in their (in-service doctors) favour,” said Dr Deepak Raj, a non-service doctor.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to the state government and the MCI to argue their case before it on April 17.