Three Month NEET SS Counselling Delay Leaves Hundreds of Telangana Doctors Unemployed

Hundreds of NEET Super Speciality (NEET-SS) aspirants in Hyderabad and across Telangana are facing severe career disruptions and financial strain due to a nearly three-month delay in the counselling process. The stall in admissions stems from a legal dispute over 151 vacant seats in Tamil Nadu, which has left hundreds of qualified doctors unemployed after they resigned from their previous jobs in anticipation of joining their new specialisations.

Out of 7,579 super-speciality seats available across India, Telangana accounts for 523 seats. Nearly 700 aspirants from the state are currently awaiting the resumption of the counselling process.

The second-round counselling results were originally scheduled to be announced on April 8. However, the process was halted due to a dispute over 151 vacant super-speciality seats. The Tamil Nadu government had decided to retain these unfilled seats under its state in-service quota.

The legal battle reached the Supreme Court, which issued a directive on May 29. The apex court ordered that the 151 vacant seats be reverted to the All India Quota and directed that the counselling process resume immediately. Despite this ruling, the counselling process has yet to restart, leaving candidates in a state of limbo.

The prolonged delay has forced many doctors into difficult financial positions. Having resigned from their previous employment when the counselling schedule was first announced, many aspirants are now left without jobs or income.

Among those affected is Dr. P Ramanath Reddy, a former civil assistant surgeon specialist. Dr. Reddy stated that the ongoing uncertainty has taken a significant toll on both his professional and personal life.

Aspirants continue to wait for the official resumption of the counselling process to secure their specialist training and resume their medical careers.