HYDERABAD: With the NEET Super Speciality (NEET-SS) 2025 counselling process remaining stalled for nearly three months, hundreds of aspirants from Telangana say the prolonged delay is disrupting their careers, finances, and specialist training.Of the 7,579 super-speciality seats available across the country, Telangana accounts for 523 seats. Nearly 700 aspirants from the state are awaiting counselling. Although the second-round counselling results were scheduled to be announced on April 8, the process has remained on hold due to a dispute over 151 vacant super-speciality seats in Tamil Nadu.The delay stems from the Tamil Nadu govt’s decision to retain the unfilled seats under its in-service quota. However, on May 29, the Supreme Court directed that the vacant seats be reverted to the All India Quota and counselling resume. However, the process has yet to restart. Many candidates said they resigned from their previous jobs after the counselling schedule was announced and are now left without employment.One such is former civil assistant surgeon specialist Dr P Ramanath Reddy, who said the uncertainty has taken a toll on both his professional and personal life.“At 30 years of age, prolonged unemployment due to the delay in NEET-SS counselling has also placed a significant financial burden on my family and me. Beyond career progression, this delay has affected my sense of purpose, stability, and ability to serve patients,” he said. Dr Srikanth Lunavath, a neurosurgeon, shared a similar experience. He resigned from a private hospital in Hyderabad in early April. “The last notified schedule was April 7. Even if the Tamil Nadu issue remains unresolved, the authorities should at least complete the second round of counselling for the remaining seats,” he said.‘Comply with SC order’Experts urged the Tamil Nadu govt to comply with the Supreme Court’s directions by surrendering the vacant seats. They also called on the directorate general of health services and the medical counselling committee to resume the counselling process without further delay. “The prolonged delay is causing severe financial hardship and mental stress among aspirants,” Dr D Srinath, national president, FAIMA said.
