SC To Hear PIL Against Upper Age Limit For #NEET

A Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the upper age limit and other new restrictions introduced by the government for candidates appearing for the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) this year.

The Supreme Court is likely to hear the petition on February 17.

The PIL is filed by students who have been denied the opportunity of appearing in the medical entrance test due to changes in its eligibility criteria.

The admission notice for NEET 2017 dated 31.01.2017, by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), specifies that (i) the upper age limit of candidates seeking admission in MBBS/BDS seats shall be 25 years as on date of examination (ii) the number of attempts which a candidate can avail at NEET/National eligibility Cum Entrance Test (UG) shall be limited to three uniformly for all the candidates.

The petitioners alleged that students/candidates above 25 years as on the date of examination, who had been preparing for past several months/years, have now been left in lurch at the last moment.

According to the petitioners, this arbitrary state action infringes Article 14 of the Constitution of India.

“It also violates Article 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution of India, which guarantees a right to practise a profession, trade or business”, the petition stated.

The Supreme Court is currently hearing another set of petitions filed by law aspirants challenging the maximum age limit of 20 years for CLAT and other LLB entrance examination.

This article has been made possible because of financial support from Independent and Public-Spirited Media Foundation.