Apex Court exercises Article 142 powers to ensure admission in private medical college for EWS student after State's failure to earmark seats.
In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India has directed the National Medical Commission and the State of Madhya Pradesh to ensure the admission of Atharv Chaturvedi, an Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidate, into an MBBS course at one of the state's private medical colleges. This decision comes after repeated failures by the authorities to implement the reservation policy for EWS in private medical institutions, leaving many deserving candidates in distressing situations.
Atharv Chaturvedi, who has successfully cleared the NEET examination twice for consecutive sessions, found himself unable to secure admission due to the state's non-compliance with its own reservation policies. The petitioner had initially faced rejection for the 2024-25 session due to the absence of reserved seats for EWS candidates as per the notification dated July 2, 2024. Despite a High Court judgment granting authorities a year to address the issue, the situation remained unchanged for the 2025-26 session, with Chaturvedi again denied admission.
The Supreme Court, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice N.V. Anjaria, took decisive action under Article 142 of the Constitution, underscoring the importance of ensuring fairness and equity in educational admissions. The Court highlighted the "patently unfair and pernicious circumstances" that Chaturvedi was subjected to, and expressed concern over the undue delay in implementing the reservation policy.
During the hearing, the petitioner-in-person, appearing online, articulated the challenges faced by EWS candidates due to systemic delays. The senior counsel for the National Medical Commission acknowledged the ongoing finalization of the policy but offered no immediate resolution, prompting the Court to intervene.
In its order, the Supreme Court directed the National Medical Commission and the State's Department of Medical Education to complete the admission process within a week. The admission will be based on Chaturvedi's EWS rank of 164 for the session 2025-2026, subject to the deposit of prescribed fees for EWS candidates.
This landmark judgment not only addresses the immediate plight of Atharv Chaturvedi but also sets a precedent for the enforcement of reservation policies in private educational institutions, ensuring that economically disadvantaged students receive their due opportunities.
Statutory provision(s): Article 142 of the Constitution of India
Atharv Chaturvedi v. State of Madhya Pradesh, (SC) : Law Finder Doc id # 2851970
