Madras HC Greenlights PwD Doctor for NEET PG 2025 Counselling with 2024 Rank
On 9th September 2025, the Madras High Court passed a judgment, permitting a PwD doctor with 90% locomotor disability to participate in NEET PG 2025-26 counselling based on his NEET PG 2024 rank. The order, which is believed to be based on the principle of equality and justice, has given hope to PwD candidates after they were initially declared ineligible by the authorities. For the medical students, medical practitioners, and medical educators, there is a change post this Madras HC NEET PG order medical counselling committee for PwD quota Undergraduate, postgraduate admissions.%20(1600%20x%20266%20px)%20(1).gif)
The Case and Court’s Ruling
The petitioner, Tarigonda Surya Maheedhar, an MBBS graduate with 90% disability on account of a left above-elbow amputation in a 2021 accident, secured an All India Rank of 50,084 (76.87 percentile) in NEET PG 2024. While he qualified under the PwD reservation, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital declared him “functionally unfit” for all PG courses. After a court-mandated revaluation at JIPMER in Puducherry, he was declared fit for 8 PG courses where he “can be substantially productive”:
- Psychiatry
- Radiation Oncology/Radiotherapy/Palliative Medicine/Radiation Medicine
- Preventive and Social Medicine
- Hospital Administration
- Health Administration
- Public Health
- Pharmacology
- Biochemistry
Quoting the SC's Kabir Pahari judgment holding that not allowing based on wrong disability assessment violates Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution, Justice C. Kumarappan of Madras HC, directed authorities to permit Maheedhar to appear for NEET PG 2025-26 counselling for these eight courses based on his 2024 ranking.
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Why This Ruling Matters
The judgment focuses on key concerns of PwD medical admissions in India:
- Equity in Access: It’s in place to ensure PwD candidates don’t miss out in a discriminatory manner, in parallel with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (5% reservation).
- Precedent-Setting: The judgment is based on the Kabir Paharia case, which strengthens the constitutional protection against erroneous assessments.
- Speciality-Specific Relaxation: Permission for Maheedhar to undertake eight PG courses is a balance between access and hands-on experience.
This comes in the wake of a previous Madras HC interim order in February 2025, where another PwD medical aspirant (80% locomotor disability) was granted reassessment at JIPMER when Mandal was declared ineligible.
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Implications for Aspirants and Healthcare
The verdict redefines NEET PG 2025 Tamil Nadu and beyond:
- PwD Empowerment: Now Aspirants to Challenge Debateful Assessments, Securing Right Access to PG seats under 5% PwD Quota.
- Career Options: Maheedhar, who is eligible for non-clinical specialities such as pharmacology and public health, due to the case has been hired as a PWD doctor in career roles in the spectrum.
- Healthcare Inclusion: If more PwD doctors step into roles similar to hospital administration, we could see more inclusive healthcare policies.
- Counsellor's Column: MCC would have to mend its ways and pace at the decisions, which could also make a difference to the schedule.
Countries including the UK (NHS disability support) and Australia (inclusive medical training) also have a focus on the integration of PwD into their systems of healthcare delivery, with dedicated assessments. In India, states such as Karnataka (active PwD portal for PG counselling) and Maharashtra (PwD-friendly policies) are showing solidarity to this inclusivity, but the problems remain.
Challenges and the Path Forward
Implementing this ruling faces hurdles:
- Standardisation of assessment Criteria: Different disability assessment standards existed, as evidenced by the initial refusal.
- Counselling Hurdle: Clear MCC directives are necessary to incorporate the 2024 ranks into NEET PG 2025- 26 counselling.
- Awareness: PwD-nationals must be better informed about their rights, as delayed scrutiny can be detrimental to their careers, such instances.
Aspirants should monitor MCC (mcc.nic.in) and NMC portals for counselling updates (as expected post-September 2025), and refer to JIPMER's Disability Assessment Board guidelines.
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Does the Madras HC NEET PG judgement pave the way for PwDs, or are operational difficulties likely to continue? PwD medical admissions: MCC issues notice on benefits, reservation in All India Quota. What are your thoughts on the same? Just share with us by filling up the enquiry form.
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