The university clarified that the decision was taken after identifying candidates who became ineligible under the counselling guidelines applicable to the stray vacancy round.

Candidates Debarred from Stray Vacancy Round

According to the official notification released by BFUHS, six candidates have been barred from taking part in the Punjab State stray vacancy counselling process. The restriction applies to admissions across multiple postgraduate medical programmes, including:

• MD (Doctor of Medicine)

• MS (Master of Surgery)

• PG Diploma courses

• DNB programmes

• Post Graduate Diploma in Sports Medicine

• Six-month Ultrasonography training courses

These admissions are conducted under the Punjab State NEET PG 2025 counselling framework.

Reason Behind the Debarment

The university explained that the affected candidates were declared ineligible as per counselling norms governing the stray vacancy round. Typically, candidates who are allotted seats through other counselling channels or fail to comply with eligibility conditions cannot participate further in state counselling rounds.

The stray vacancy round is considered the final stage of the admission process and is conducted to fill remaining vacant postgraduate medical seats after earlier rounds conclude. Authorities enforce strict compliance rules at this stage to prevent seat blocking and ensure efficient seat utilization.

About the Stray Vacancy Round

The stray vacancy round plays a crucial role in closing the admission cycle by allocating leftover seats in participating medical institutions. As per counselling rules:

• Upgradation of seats is not permitted in this round.

• Candidates allotted seats must join the assigned college.

• Failure to report may lead to forfeiture of the security deposit.

This round is conducted after completion of Round 1, Round 2, and mop-up counselling phases.

Recent Developments in Punjab NEET PG Counselling 2025

The debarring notice comes amid ongoing counselling activities in Punjab. Recently, BFUHS released the stray vacancy round seat allotment result, where 143 candidates secured MD and MS seats across participating institutions. Candidates allotted seats were instructed to report to colleges within the stipulated deadline to confirm admission.

The counselling process is being conducted online through the BFUHS portal, following schedules announced earlier by the university.

Why Strict Rules Are Enforced

Medical counselling authorities impose strict eligibility rules during the stray vacancy round because:

• It is the final opportunity to fill vacant postgraduate seats.

• Last-minute withdrawals can result in permanent seat wastage.

• Medical education regulators mandate transparent and efficient seat allocation.

Debarment measures are therefore used to maintain fairness and prevent misuse of counselling opportunities.

What Candidates Should Keep in Mind

Aspirants participating in NEET PG counselling should note:

• Carefully verify eligibility before opting for the stray vacancy round.

• Candidates holding or allotted seats elsewhere may become ineligible.

• Joining the allotted seat is mandatory once selected.

• Non-compliance may lead to penalties or exclusion from counselling.

Conclusion

The latest action by BFUHS highlights the increasing emphasis on transparency and rule adherence in postgraduate medical admissions. With the stray vacancy round marking the final phase of counselling, authorities are ensuring that available medical seats are filled efficiently while maintaining procedural discipline.

Candidates are advised to regularly check official notifications and strictly follow counselling guidelines to avoid disqualification.