After NEET-PG Cut-Off Reduction, Telangana HC Allows In-Service Doctors To Exercise Web Options In Mop-Up Counselling For Stray Vacancies

The Telangana High Court has held that in-service doctors who became eligible for admission to Post Graduate Medical Degree Courses after reduction of the NEET-PG percentile should be permitted to exercise web options in the mop-up counselling for stray vacancies, if such counselling is reopened by the University.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Apresh Kumar Singh and Justice G.M. Mohiuddin disposed of a writ petition filed by the petitioner- Surgeon and 17 other Civil Assistant Surgeons, observing that in the event the University issues notification for exercising web options for mop-up counselling for stray vacancies, the petitioners should be allowed to participate in the process. The Court clarified that the “question of law was left open to be raised in an appropriate proceeding”.

The petitioners are Civil Assistant Surgeons working under the Government of Telangana who sought admission to Post Graduate Medical Degree courses under the in-service quota.

They became eligible for admission after the percentile of NEET-PG scores was reduced pursuant to a notice dated 13 January 2026 issued by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences. Following this, the respondent University opened mop-up counselling for stray vacancies through a notification dated 15 January 2026.

Before approaching the High Court, the petitioners had moved the Supreme Court in a Writ Petition, seeking permission to participate in the counselling process against stray vacancies after becoming eligible due to the reduction of the cut-off marks. The writ petition before the Supreme Court was withdrawn with liberty to approach the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution.

The petitioners thereafter approached the Telangana High Court seeking permission to participate in the mop-up counselling process.

Counsel for the petitioners submitted that the delay in approaching the High Court occurred because the petitioners had first approached the Supreme Court. It was contended that since the petitioners had become eligible after reduction of the NEET-PG cut-off marks, they should be allowed to participate in the mop-up counselling for stray vacancies.

On the other hand, the Standing Counsel for the Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS)submitted, on instructions, that 311 seats had become available for the mop-up counselling. It was further stated that the web options for mop-up counselling had already been completed but that allotments had been kept on hold, and that until Phase-II counselling was completed 48 in-service candidates had been allotted seats.

The University submitted that if web options were opened again for mop-up counselling for the remaining vacancies, the petitioners could exercise their web options.

Taking note of the stand taken by the University, the High Court observed that if the University issues a notification permitting exercise of web options for mop-up counselling for stray vacancies, the petitioners should be allowed to exercise their web options.

In conclusion, the Bench clarified that the question of law raised in the petition was left open to be agitated in an appropriate proceeding, and accordingly disposed of the writ petition without any order as to costs.

Case Name: Dr. Karam Nikhil Kumar and seventeen others v The State of Telangana

Case No.: Writ Petition No. 2628 of 2026

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