The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has revised the eligibility criteria for candidates participating in the NEET UG 2024 stray vacancy round. The new guidelines also include the addition of a seat at Sri Lakshmi Narayan Institute of Medical Science in Puducherry. The MCC has requested that state counselling authorities submit the joining data of candidates by October 25, 2024, to ensure compliance with updated requirements.
In a recent notice, the MCC provided a detailed list clarifying who is eligible to participate in the stray vacancy round. This revision follows a court order by the High Court of Kerala, which called for adjustments to ensure equitable access and compliance with legal directives.
Key Eligibility Criteria for the Stray Vacancy Round
The following criteria apply to candidates interested in the stray vacancy round of NEET UG counselling:
- Eligibility to Participate:
- Candidates without any seat allocation in both All India and state quotas are eligible.
- Those marked as “Not Reported” in Round 3 of NEET counselling are also eligible to participate.
- Ineligible Candidates:
- Candidates who received an allotment in Round 3 through MCC but did not join their seats are barred from this round.
- Candidates who secured seats through state quota rounds are also prohibited from participating.
Important Note on Non-Compliance
Candidates are advised to adhere strictly to the rules, as the MCC has outlined specific penalties for non-compliance:
- Security Deposit Forfeiture: Candidates who fail to join their allotted seat in the stray vacancy round will have their security deposit forfeited.
- Debarment from NEET Exam: Candidates who do not report to their stray vacancy seat will be barred from taking the NEET exam in the following year.
- State Counselling Data Sharing: The MCC will share Round 3 joining data with state counselling authorities to prevent candidates from securing state quota seats if they are barred from All India counselling.
Additional Seat and Court Compliance
Per a High Court of Kerala directive, the MCC has added a seat at Sri Lakshmi Narayan Institute of Medical Science (Institute Code- 200380) in Puducherry. This seat addition reflects the court’s decision in the matter of “WP No. 36967 of 2024 – Namitha C N vs Medical Counselling Committee & Ors.”
For further details on state quota seats, candidates are encouraged to contact the respective state counselling authorities.
These revised criteria provide NEET UG candidates with a clear pathway for the final round of seat allotment while maintaining standards of fairness and compliance in the counselling process.
