NewsIMTSVedantaa Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) in Palghar has filed petitions in Bombay High Court seeking institute-level admissions for vacant MBBS seats after centralised NEET counselling. Today, the private medical college is challenging Maharashtra's decision to conduct all admissions through centralised counselling despite 350 of 3,499 private MBBS seats remaining unfilled after the third round. From November 6, 2025, the case will be heard as VIMS argues that the National Medical Commission's prohibition cannot override state rules from this year. The college has also challenged the state's definition of NRI quota, which limits benefits to only actual NRIs and their children. Until last year, VIMS had successfully litigated for college-level admissions despite NMC's insistence on centralised online admissions. Next week, the court will consider whether private colleges should be allowed to fill vacant seats independently, a practice that activists claim leads to an opaque process favouring highest bidders over deserving candidates. (Updated 6 Nov 2025, 22:03 IST; source: link)
Private Medical College Challenges State Counselling System
Vedantaa Institute of Medical Sciences in Palghar has approached the Bombay High Court seeking permission to conduct institute-level admissions for vacant MBBS seats. The college is contesting Maharashtra's mandate that all medical admissions must happen through centralised NEET counselling, even though 350 of 3,499 private MBBS seats remained unfilled after the third counselling round. The case, scheduled for hearing from November 6, 2025, centers on whether the National Medical Commission's rules can override Maharashtra's 2016 regulations that previously allowed colleges to fill vacant seats independently.
Dispute Over NRI Quota and Seat Filling Process
The private medical college has also challenged Maharashtra's interpretation of the NRI quota, which currently restricts benefits to actual Non-Resident Indians and their children. Until last year, the institute had successfully obtained court permission for college-level admissions despite the National Medical Commission insisting on centralised online admissions. The upcoming court decision will determine if private colleges can fill remaining vacant seats on their own—a practice that education activists claim creates an opaque admission process that potentially favors students who can pay more rather than those with better qualifications.
Key Points
- Today, the private medical college is challenging Maharashtra's decision to conduct all admissions through centralised counselling despite 350 of 3,499 private MBBS seats remaining unfilled after the third round.
- From November 6, 2025, the case will be heard as VIMS argues that the National Medical Commission's prohibition cannot override state rules from this year.
- The college has also challenged the state's definition of NRI quota, which limits benefits to only actual NRIs and their children.
