Aspirants pin hopes on yet another round

HYDERABAD: With more than 500 seats in DM and MCh super specialty medical courses lying vacant across the country after the second round of counselling for admissions after the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Super Specialty (NEET-SS), aspirants are pinning hopes on a third round counselling.
Recently, a group of 25 NEET-SS aspirants moved Supreme Court demanding a third round of counselling to fill up vacant seats. Though Apex court has reserved its judgment, aspirants say it’s the only chance for those who have not got seats.Candidates, however, are wary of a mop-up round which gives opportunity to those who did not secure a seat in the completed two rounds of counselling. 

In other states, as several candidates blocked seats without taking admission,  the exact number of vacancies cannot be known until the entire counselling process is completed. It is being said that the compulsory rural stint and execution of a bond of `2 crore are deterring students from taking admission to colleges in Telangana.“Meritorious students have lost opportunity because a few students blocked seats. If another round of counselling is not conducted, not only will seats go waste but efforts of several deserving doctors will also go in vain,” said Sai Lakshman, a doctor.   

NEET-SS was held on June 10 and 11, and the results were announced on July 15. In August the first round of counselling for 1,140 seats was conducted and  828 seats were not taken. Even after the second round of counselling, which was conducted from September 14 to 16, nearly half of the seats remained vacant, leaving medicos waiting anxiously for SC judgment.With nearly 200 vacant seats in government colleges there is also a fear that if a mop-up round takes place, only private colleges will benefit.