Bhubaneswar, Aug. 9: The second counselling for postgraduate seats in three government colleges and one private college passed off smoothly today.

The directorate of medical education and technology (DMET) held the counselling for the second time today following the Supreme Court order to take students on merit basis.

On April 23 and July 13, the DMET had admitted students on the basis of merit and service experience in the rural areas under the state government.

The directorate had to cancel the admissions made in the first counselling following the Supreme Court ruling on an appeal made by some candidates. Counselling was held for 86 seats at SCB in Cuttack, MKCG in Berhampur and VSS in Burla and the private Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital in Rourkela.

As many as 637 students attended the counselling for 87 seats. The counselling was held under open quota in postgraduate medical degree and postgraduate surgical degree (MD/MS) courses.

“The DMET cancelled the previous counselling held in April 23 and July 13, in which special weightage was given to doctors serving in the rural and tribal areas, following the Supreme Court order. These doctors were getting 10 per cent to 30 per cent marks during postgraduate counselling in addition to their entrance marks,” said joint DMET Sitaram Mohapatra.

The state government’s decision to provide extra weightage to in-service doctors from open quota had earlier been challenged in Orissa High Court. The high court had ruled in favour of the government.

Later, another group of candidates challenged it in the Supreme Court.

The apex court decided in favour of the students and asked the state government to hold fresh counselling and take students without any additional weightage whether or not they had served in the rural areas.