NEET PG 2026: MP HC restricts inservice doctors' seat allotment to 30 percent quota, cites injustice to candidates with high scores
Bhopal: While hearing a case challenging the admission procedure for postgraduate medical courses, the Madhya Pradesh High Court observed that the existing procedure appeared to give in-service candidates a double benefit by allowing them to avail both the 30% reservation quota and additional incentive marks for their years of service.
Noting that this was causing injustice to fresh candidates who had secured higher NEET PG scores, the court directed the state government to ensure that admissions of in-service candidates to MD/MS courses in Government and Autonomous Medical Colleges across Madhya Pradesh are restricted to the 30% quota reserved for them under the existing seat distribution system.
The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Vivek Jain made the observation on a petition filed by fresh non-in-service NEET PG candidates, who challenged the State's admission procedure. They argued that awarding 'service-based incentive marks' (additional marks) to in-service candidates in their NEET PG scores artificially improves their merit positions. This affects the opportunities available to fresh candidates, even when they have secured higher NEET PG scores.
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As per latest Live Law report, the petitioners submitted that under Rule 14 of the Madhya Pradesh Medical Education Admission Rules, 2018, in-service candidates are entitled to incentive weightage (additional marks) based on their length of service. They contended that this benefit, when combined with the separate 30% reservation quota, gives in-service candidates an additional advantage over fresh candidates.
They argued that this allows in-service candidates to secure their preferred postgraduate specialities even when fresh candidates have obtained higher NEET PG scores. The petitioners further contended that the admission procedure violated the 2018 admission rules and Article 14 of the Constitution.
Taking note of these arguments, the bench observed, "It appears that the procedure adopted by the respondents/Director for admitting students to the course is resulting in a double benefit to in-service candidates. They are getting the benefit of the 30% reservation quota as well as additional marks on the basis of their experience. This is causing grave injustice to fresh candidates who have secured higher NEET PG scores."
"In view of the urgency of the matter and the ongoing process of seat allocation, this Court considers it appropriate to direct the respondents (State Government) to ensure that the allocation of branches/subjects to in-service candidates is restricted to the 30% quota earmarked for them for PG Degree (MD/MS) seats in Government and Autonomous Medical Colleges of Madhya Pradesh (as per NEET PG-2026-2)," the bench added.
The bench also permitted the petitioners to serve notices on the respondents, including through email, and directed all parties to complete their pleadings.
The matter is scheduled for the next hearing on November 5 at 2:30 PM.
