Can an EWS Student Be Denied MBBS Admission in Private Medical Colleges? Supreme Court Answers, Grants Seat Under Article 142

Can an eligible EWS candidate be denied MBBS admission due to delays in implementing reservation policy in private medical colleges?

The Supreme Court has answered this question by directing the Madhya Pradesh government and the National Medical Commission to grant admission to an EWS candidate in a private medical college, using its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and N V Anjaria passed the order while hearing a petition filed by Atharv Chaturvedi, who appeared before the Court in person.

The Court noted that the petitioner had qualified the NEET examination twice, first for the 2024–2025 academic sessionand again for the 2025–2026 session, but was unable to obtain admission to an MBBS course due to circumstances beyond his control.

Why was the EWS candidate denied admission?

After qualifying NEET in 2024, the petitioner was unable to secure admission because the Madhya Pradesh government had not provided reservation for EWS candidates in private medical colleges in its notification dated July 2, 2024.

The petitioner approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which in its judgment dated December 17, 2024 declined to grant immediate relief.

However, the High Court directed the authorities to complete the process of enhancing seats in private medical colleges to accommodate EWS reservation within one year.

What happened in the next admission cycle?

Despite qualifying NEET again in the 2025–2026 session, the petitioner continued to face the same problem.

The Supreme Court observed that the process of enhancing seats and earmarking reservation for EWS candidates in private medical colleges had still not been completed.

The Court found that the delay by the authorities had effectively prevented the petitioner from securing admission.

The bench noted that the petitioner had clearly demonstrated the disadvantage he faced due to the absence of a functioning policy.

What did the National Medical Commission say?

During the hearing, counsel appearing for the National Medical Commission (NMC) informed the Court that the policy was still in the process of being finalised and would be implemented in due course.

However, the Court observed that once the policy is finalised, its implementation by private medical colleges could take additional time.

The Court held that such delays would further prejudice the petitioner, who had already qualified the entrance examination twice.

Why did the Supreme Court invoke Article 142?

The bench observed that the petitioner had made genuine efforts in successive admission cycles but was denied admission due to administrative delays.

The Court stated that the record clearly showed lack of promptness on the part of the State authorities and the National Medical Commission in implementing the reservation policy.

In these circumstances, the Court decided to exercise its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, which allows the Supreme Court to pass orders necessary to do complete justice in a case.

What directions did the Supreme Court issue?

The Court directed the National Medical Commission and the Madhya Pradesh government through the Department of Medical Education to ensure that the petitioner is admitted to the MBBS course in one of the private medical colleges in the state.

The admission must be granted based on the petitioner’s EWS rank of 164 in the NEET 2025–2026 session.

The Court also clarified that the admission would be subject to payment of fees applicable to candidates belonging to the EWS category.

Case Title: Atharva Chaturvedi Vs State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors

Bench: CJI Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi & NV Anjaria

Date of Judgment: February 10, 2026