In a significant move affirming the rights of persons with disabilities, the Supreme Court has ordered the constitution of a fresh Medical Board at AIIMS, New Delhi, to reassess the eligibility of a candidate with benchmark disabilities for admission to the MBBS course.

The Court made it clear that outdated norms cannot eclipse the protections granted under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

The petitioner, who was born with the absence of multiple fingers in both hands and deformities in his left foot, had cleared NEET UG 2024 with an impressive score of 542 — well above the qualifying cut-off for candidates in the SC/PwBD category.

Despite his strong academic performance, his application for a NEET Disability Certificate was rejected by VMMC-Safdarjung Hospital, which assessed his disability at 68% but deemed him ineligible under the current guidelines set by the National Medical Commission (NMC).

This denial was upheld first by the Delhi High Court and later by a Division Bench, both relying on opinions from AIIMS medical boards. Challenging these decisions, the petitioner approached the Supreme Court.

His counsel argued that both the medical assessments and court rulings failed to consider the critical provisions of the Disabilities Act, particularly the principles of reasonable accommodation and the use of assistive technologies. Citing precedents from Om Rathod v. DGHS and Anmol v. Union of India, it was contended that the petitioner, having superior physical functionality and academic merit compared to those earlier cases, deserves the opportunity to pursue medical education with necessary accommodations.

The Supreme Court took note of the ongoing efforts by the NMC to revise its guidelines in line with recent rulings but stressed that the petitioner’s future cannot be left “hanging in limbo” pending such updates. It reiterated that reasonable accommodation is not an act of charity but a legal right, and merit in competitive examinations like NEET must play a central role in determining eligibility.

The Court directed the formation of a new Medical Board at AIIMS, which must include at least one expert nominated by disability rights advocate Dr. Satendra Singh. This board is tasked with conducting a functional assessment of the petitioner and submitting its report within three weeks.

The Court further clarified that the Board’s findings will be final and binding for deciding the petitioner’s eligibility for admission under the PwBD category for the academic year 2024–2025.

By issuing this directive, the Supreme Court reinforced its stance that inclusive education must be realized in both spirit and practice, ensuring that no deserving candidate is denied a future in medicine on the basis of rigid or outdated standards.