NEET Disability guidelines: Supreme court sets deadline for NMC, DGHS to finalise norms, expand medical boards, create appellate body
Supreme Court of India
New Delhi: Alleging continued non-compliance with the earlier directions, a doctors' body recently filed an interlocutory application before the top court bench.
While considering the matter, the Apex Court bench has now directed the National Medical Commission (NMC) and DGHS to finalize the NEET disability guidelines by March 16, mandate disability assessment boards across all States, rather than limiting them to a few, and constitute and Appellate Board to address the cases challenging decisions of medical boards, Dr. Satendra Singh (UCMS), on behalf of Doctors with Disabilities: Agents of Change, mentioned in a statement.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that in the case of Anmol v Union of India, the top court bench last year had observed that the requirement under the National Medical Commission's (NMC) guidelines specifying that an MBBS candidate must have "both hands intact", "reeks of ableism".
Opining that the said criteria required to be revised, the Supreme Court bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan had slammed the NMC norm. Earlier, in the case of Om Rathod v. Director General of Health Sciences, the Supreme Court held that a candidate was entitled to undergo the MBBS course, despite not having both hands. The Apex Court granted the relief after an assessment was made by Dr. Satendra Singh, a specialist in the field. Apart from this, the top court bench had also explicitly directed the NMC to revise the disability guidelines.
Also Read: Supreme Court slams NMC, says 'both hands intact' not required for becoming a doctor
Claiming that this mandate remains unfulfilled, Dr. Satendra Singh (UCMS) and Dr Pankaj Prasad (AIIMS Bhopal), on behalf of Doctors with Disabilities: Agents of Change, filed the intervention before the top court bench.
During the hearing of the matter on 19.01.2026, the counsel for NMC, Mr. Gaurav Sharma, pointed out the interim guidelines on the assessment method for granting admission in the MBBS course to PwD (persons with benchmark disability) candidates for academic year 2025-2026. He submitted that serious discussions are underway and the final guidelines will be formulated very soon. He prayed for six weeks to place on record the developments.
Mr. Senthil Jagadeesan, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the intervenors, submitted that he had no objection for time being granted. However, he drew the attention of the court to the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of Omkar Ramchandra Rathod vs. Union of India 2024 and more particularly paragraphs 34 & 35 thereof. The counsel further submitted that there was also a direction to increase the availability of medical boards in the country.
The court directed Mr. Joshi, the counsel for Union of india, to take take instructions on this issue and ensure that there is an increase in the availability of medical boards so that the candidates with disabilities are not prejudiced.
Meanwhile, the counsel for the intervenors raised a point about the creation of appellate bodies which will hear the appeal against the report of the disability assessment boards. He submitted that the Union of India and the NMC ought to respond to this issue also.
Accordingly, taking note of this, the court ordered, "Since, these are issues which vitally affects the rights of the persons with disabilities and their fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India read with Article 41 of the Directive Principles of the State Policy (Part IV), we direct that the needful be done and necessary affidavits be placed before this Court on or before 16th March, 2026."
The matter has been listed for further consideration on 17th March, 2026.
To view the order, click on the link below:
https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/supreme-court-disability-guidelines-322951.pdf
