The Supreme Court of India has directed the National Medical Commission and the State of Madhya Pradesh to admit an Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidate to an MBBS course in a private medical college, invoking its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution. The Court found that delay in implementing the EWS reservation policy in private medical colleges had placed the petitioner at a “patently unfair and pernicious” disadvantage.
Background of the Case
The order was passed in Atharv Chaturvedi v. State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors. , arising out of a judgment dated October 16, 2025 passed by the High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Jabalpur.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice N.V. Anjaria heard the Special Leave Petition on February 10, 2026 .
The petitioner appeared in person and was heard online. The Court recorded that he “has very ably highlighted the distressing situation and patent disadvantage faced by him as an EWS candidate” . The Court also heard the learned senior counsel for the National Medical Commission.
The petitioner, belonging to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), had qualified the NEET examination twice — first for the 2024–25 session and again for the 2025–26 session . However, he was unable to obtain admission to an MBBS course due to circumstances described by the Court as “patently unfair and pernicious” and beyond his control .
After the first examination in 2024, admission was denied on the ground that the State Government’s notification dated July 2, 2024 had not carved out any reservation for EWS candidates in private medical colleges .
The High Court of Madhya Pradesh, by judgment dated December 17, 2024, declined to grant relief to the petitioner. However, it granted the authorities one year to complete the process of enhancement of seats in private colleges for providing reservation to candidates belonging to the EWS category .
Despite this, during the 2025–26 admission cycle, the petitioner was again unable to secure admission due to failure on the part of the respondent authorities to complete the process of enhancement and earmarking of seats .
Submissions and Court’s Observations
The Court observed:
“It is writ large on the face of the record that such a process has not been completed by the State authorities.”
The learned senior counsel for the National Medical Commission submitted that the policy was “in the process of being finalised and will be brought into force in due course of time,” and that its implementation by private medical colleges might require additional time once finalised .
The Bench, however, cautioned that further delay would cause serious prejudice to the petitioner:
“This delay, if permitted to further constrict the relief to which the petitioner, if found entitled to, would be unduly prejudicial to him.”
Taking into account the petitioner’s “earnest attempts” in both admission rounds and the lack of promptness by the respondents in implementing their policy, the Court decided to exercise its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution of India .
Directions Issued by the Court
Invoking Article 142, the Court issued the following directions:
“(A) The National Medical Commission and the State of Madhya Pradesh, through the Department of Medical Education, are directed to ensure that the petitioner is admitted to the MBBS course in one of the private medical colleges; and
(B) Such admission shall be strictly as per his EWS Rank of 164 in the session 2025-2026 and shall be further subject to deposit of the fee, etc., as are prescribed for candidates belonging to the EWS category.”
The Court directed that the “needful shall be done within one week” .
The Special Leave Petition and all pending applications were disposed of accordingly .
