Mumbai: The Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell has found 152 students used fake or incorrect documents for MBBS and BDS admissions. This discovery came during the ongoing admission process for NEET-UG 2025 . Officials are now checking all documents carefully. This is to ensure fair admissions and prevent 'seat-blocking', where students try to reserve seats unfairly.
Documents Found Invalid
The CET Cell found problems with various documents. These issues were mainly noticed during the third round of NEET-UG counselling . Here are the types of wrong documents found:
- Many students gave domicile certificates not in the correct Maharashtra format. A domicile certificate proves where a student lives.
- Some submitted Class 10 certificates or other papers with details that did not match.
- Officials also found students who had already taken admission in medical colleges in other states or through the All India Quota . They still appeared on the Maharashtra merit list to block seats. This means they were trying to hold more than one seat.
Action Against Students
The CET Cell has sent notices to all 152 students . They must submit their original, correct documents by October 16 . If students do not provide real documents by this date, their admission will be cancelled. The Cell may also take further action as per admission rules. This is the first time such a large check has been done during an active counselling round. It shows the Cell's focus on transparency.
Why Seat-Blocking is a Problem
Seat-blocking is a common issue in medical admissions across India. It happens when a student takes a seat but later vacates it. This can stop other deserving students from getting that seat. The third round of counselling is often more likely to have such problems. Many top-ranked students often withdraw or move to other colleges, creating opportunities for unfair practices.
Steps to Stop Fraud
Other states have also faced similar problems:
- Last year, Tamil Nadu found students using fake community and income certificates for reserved seats.
- In 2022 , Karnataka's KEA found more than a dozen students using duplicate documents or hiding information in multiple counselling rounds.
Because of these issues, many states now want stronger checks during NEET-UG admissions. They want to compare information across different databases. Maharashtra's CET Cell is now cross-checking student records with other states and the All India Quota database . This helps find duplicate entries. Officials have also suggested linking each seat allotment to a student's Aadhaar card or another unique identification number. This will make it harder to cheat.
Important Advice for Students
The Maharashtra CET Cell advises all students applying for medical admissions to be careful. They must make sure all uploaded documents are genuine and follow the state's format. Using fake or incorrect documents will lead to disqualification from the admission process. It is important for students to participate honestly.
