In Brief
Punjab restricted a 30% NEET postgraduate mark incentive for rural service to PCMS doctors, excluding Rural Medical Officers (RMOs) working for Zila Parishads. The High Court struck down this restriction as contrary to MCI Regulations 9(IV) and ordered the merit list recast to include RMOs. The Supreme Court set aside the High Court's directions, holding that while Regulation 9 is enabling, States may restrict incentive benefits to particular service cadres based on legitimate policy differences. The Court found the High Court should have referred the conflicting coordinate Bench judgment to a larger Bench rather than overruling it. The Court remitted the matter for government reconsideration while directing continuation of admissions already made."
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.