Healthcare Crisis or Bureaucratic Deadlock? Gujarat HC Questions "No Further Counselling" for 57 Vacant MBBS Seats

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Ahmedabad — In a significant development for medical education in India, the Gujarat High Court has intervened in the ongoing admissions saga, demanding justification from the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) regarding their refusal to conduct an additional counselling round for 57 vacant MBBS seats in the state.

The court’s inquiry comes at a critical time when India is grappling with a paradoxical situation: a historic increase in medical seats coupled with a persistent issue of vacancies. The directive was issued by Justice Nirzar Desai on Monday, following a plea by the MEDGUJ Association of Gujarat Medical Colleges, which argued that leaving these seats unfilled is detrimental not only to aspiring students but to the broader public health infrastructure.

The Legal Battle: “Why Not Us?”

The core of the dispute lies in the disparity between administrative decisions for different medical courses. The petitioners highlighted that while the regulatory bodies have scheduled an additional counselling round for Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) courses on December 24, 2025, a similar avenue was closed for MBBS aspirants, despite a higher number of vacancies compared to previous years.

Justice Desai’s bench was pointed in its observation, questioning the logic behind the regulatory “reluctance.” The court noted that in the previous academic year, authorities conducted a special round to fill just four vacant MBBS seats. With 57 seats currently empty—a number significantly higher than the prior year—the court found the NMC’s stance puzzling.

“Considering the fact that the admission process is common for all four courses — MBBS, BDS, BHMS, and BAMS — and also considering that a similar practice was adopted last year to fill four vacant MBBS seats, and even this year for the BDS course, what is the impediment or justifiable reason for not conducting one more round of admissions for the MBBS course?” Justice Desai asked during the hearing.

When pressed, the counsel for the NMC reportedly informed the bench that they had instructions stating another round was “not possible,” without offering a specific technical or legal impediment.

A National Paradox: More Seats, More Vacancies

This case is a microcosm of a larger national issue. Data presented in the Lok Sabha earlier this year revealed that despite a robust 39% increase in MBBS seats since 2020—bringing the total to over 1.15 lakh for the 2024-25 session—thousands of seats remain unfilled annually.

According to government statistics, approximately 2,849 MBBS seats remained vacant across India for the 2024-25 academic year. This trend persists despite the intense competition for medical admissions, where over 2.3 million students appear for the NEET-UG examination.

Key Statistics:

Total MBBS Seats (2024-25): ~1,15,900
Vacant Seats (2024-25): 2,849
Gujarat MBBS Capacity: ~7,000 seats
Current Gujarat Vacancies: 57

Expert Perspectives: The Cost of Bureaucracy

Healthcare policy experts suggest that the vacancies are rarely due to a lack of qualified candidates but rather systemic inefficiencies. Dr. Rajesh Gupta (name changed for privacy), a senior medical education consultant and former dean of a government medical college, explains the disconnect.

“It is a tragedy of logistics,” Dr. Gupta states. “We have a surplus of eligible students but a rigid counselling process that often times out before students can match with available seats. High fees in private colleges are a major factor, yes, but when seats go vacant in a country with a doctor-population ratio that struggles to meet WHO standards, it is a policy failure. Every vacant seat is a lost doctor for the community six years down the line.”

The MEDGUJ Association echoed this sentiment in their plea, arguing that in a nation facing a shortage of qualified medical professionals, the “waste of infrastructure” caused by unfilled seats is indefensible.

Why Do Seats Remain Empty?

The reasons for these vacancies are multifaceted, often involving a mix of financial barriers and procedural fatigue:

Exorbitant Fees: Many of the vacant seats are likely in private institutions or under the NRI quota, where annual fees can range from ₹15 lakh to ₹25 lakh, placing them out of reach for middle-class meritorious students.
Counselling Fatigue: The admission process involves multiple rounds (Round 1, Round 2, Mop-up, and Stray Vacancy). Students often “block” seats in hopes of an upgrade and withdraw at the last minute, leaving the seat empty after the final deadline has passed.
Technical Glitches: As seen in related cases this month, minor procedural errors—such as failing to upload a provisional admission order—can lead to a student’s admitted status being revoked, marking the seat as “vacant” in the system.

Implications for Students and Public Health

For the 57 students who could potentially fill these spots, the court’s decision is a lifeline. A favorable ruling could set a precedent, compelling the MCC and NMC to adopt a more flexible approach to “stray vacancies” in the future.

However, for the public, the stakes are higher. “A vacant seat is not just a statistic; it represents denied access to healthcare,” says Dr. Gupta. “If we have the infrastructure to train 57 more doctors in Gujarat alone, we must use it. The administrative rigidity we are seeing is out of sync with the nation’s health goals.”

The High Court has listed the matter for further hearing, awaiting a formal affidavit from the NMC and MCC explaining their inability to hold the counselling round. As the clock ticks on the academic calendar, thousands of eyes—from anxious parents to health policymakers—are fixed on Ahmedabad.

Medical Disclaimer:

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before making any health-related decisions or changes to your treatment plan. The information presented here is based on current research and expert opinions, which may evolve as new evidence emerges.