Bombay HC permits institute-level counselling for vacant seats in Maharashtra private medical colleges

The Bombay High Court has passed a crucial order allowing private medical and dental colleges to conduct an institute-level counselling round to fill MBBS and BDS seats remaining vacant after the centralized NEET UG 2025 process. This ruling, stemming from the need to prevent seat wastage in Maharashtra, creates a final, unexpected opportunity for thousands of qualified NEET UG candidates, especially for Management and NRI Quota seats. Aspirants must track their desired private colleges and state counselling updates closely to participate in this direct, college-level admission round.

The conclusion of the centralized NEET UG 2025 counselling rounds often leaves a perplexing scenario: a significant number of undergraduate medical (MBBS) and dental (BDS) seats, particularly in private institutions, remain unfilled. This not only represents a loss of valuable training opportunities but also a financial strain on colleges. In a move that grants a final, last-minute opportunity to thousands of medical aspirants in Maharashtra, a Division Bench of the Bombay High Court, comprising Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Ashwin Bhobe, has allowed private medical and dental colleges to conduct their own institute-level admission rounds to fill these remaining vacant seats. This ruling, which extends an interim order from the previous year, is critical as it directly challenges the National Medical Commission's (NMC) stance on centralized admissions and opens a non-centralized pathway to secure an MBBS/BDS seat.

​ The Legal Context: Centralization vs. Seat Wastage

​The Bombay High Court's ruling is the result of a legal conflict between the National Medical Commission's policy of 100% centralized admissions and the state's rules aimed at preventing seat wastage.

• ​The NMC Mandate: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has consistently pushed for all MBBS and BDS admissions, including those for state, management, and NRI quotas, to be completed only through the Centralized Admission Process (CAP) conducted by the State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell. The NMC views institute-level admissions as a potential loophole for malpractice and lack of transparency.
• ​The State's Contention (Rule 16): The petition, notably spearheaded by institutions like Vedantaa Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS), Palghar, successfully argued that the state's existing admission rules (Rule 16 of the Maharashtra Unaided Private Professional Educational Institutions Rules, 2016) explicitly permit colleges to fill vacant seats after the final CAP rounds are over.
• ​The Court's Reasoning: The Division Bench reaffirmed the principle that the state's legislative rules (Rule 16) cannot be superseded by an executive instruction (the NMC's circular) unless the former is repealed or amended. The court also highlighted the substantial number of vacant seats (estimated at over 450 MBBS seats in private colleges) remaining after the Mop-Up and Stray Vacancy rounds, emphasizing that allowing them to go unfilled constitutes an "undue waste of resources."

 Impact and Opportunity for NEET UG 2025 Aspirants

​This decision provides a crucial final window, particularly for candidates with lower ranks who still meet the basic NEET UG cut-off eligibility criteria.

• ​Final Chance for Admission: This institute-level round is typically the absolute last opportunity for admissions into the current 2025-26 academic session, especially for seats that could not be filled through the centralized process, often due to candidates not reporting or the high financial costs of the Management/NRI quota seats.
• ​Who Should Apply? 
  • ​Candidates who were eligible but unallotted in the previous state counselling rounds.
  • ​Candidates who had been allotted BDS seats but are desperately seeking an MBBS seat.
  • ​Candidates targeting private colleges where the high fees were a barrier, as colleges may offer some concessions or be more open to admitting candidates from slightly lower ranks to fill seats immediately.
• ​Potential Risks and Concerns: While this round is a lifeline, it also draws criticism from parent activists and anti-corruption bodies who argue that direct institute-level admissions can lead to: 
  • ​Lack of Transparency: Admissions may be granted based on opaque criteria rather than strict merit.
  • ​"Highest Bidder" Allegations: Allegations often arise that colleges prioritize candidates willing to pay higher-than-stipulated fees (often referred to as capitation fees) for the remaining seats, undermining the sanctity of the NEET rank.

​ Strategy for Participating in the Institute-Level Round

​Aspirants must change their strategy from centralized choice filling to highly active, direct engagement with the colleges.

• ​Monitor College Notices: The State CET Cell will likely issue a notification, but the actual admission announcements will come directly from the individual private medical and dental colleges. Candidates must continuously check the official websites and notice boards of their target private institutions in Maharashtra for the exact dates and procedures of the institute-level round.
• ​Prepare Necessary Documentation: All documents, including the NEET UG 2025 Scorecard, eligibility certificates, domicile, caste/validity certificates, and financial affidavits, must be ready in both original and attested copies. Colleges will conduct direct, on-the-spot verification.
• ​Understand the Procedure: This round will likely involve candidates physically presenting themselves at the college on the designated day(s). The colleges will prepare a merit list of the present candidates who applied and fill the vacant seats in a sequential manner based on their NEET UG rank and adherence to the college's specific criteria.

​Conclusion

​The Bombay High Court's directive to allow institute-level admissions for vacant MBBS and BDS seats is a pragmatic response to the issue of seat wastage in Maharashtra's private medical colleges. For the hundreds of NEET UG 2025 qualified aspirants who are still seat-less, this represents a crucial, last-ditch opportunity. However, candidates must proceed with extreme caution, ensuring that all admission processes adhere strictly to the merit order of the NEET UG ranks and that they remain fully aware of the official fee structures, avoiding any undue demands or illegal practices. This late-stage flexibility is a temporary measure, and aspirants should utilize it wisely to secure their future in medicine.

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