PIL against upper age limit for NEET filed in SC

February 13, 2017

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 scheduled 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 was put up by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on 31^st of January 2017 which stated the following-

The upper age limit of candidates seeking admission in MBBS/BDS seats shall be 25 years as on date of examination.
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 a state of shock at the last moment. The petitioner stated in the petition that this arbitrary action of the state is an infringement to Article 14 of the Constitution of India. It was further added that it also violates Article 19(1) (g) of the Constitution of India, which guarantees and protects the right to practice a profession, trade or business. Currently, the Supreme Court is also hearing petitions filed by law aspirants challenging the maximum age limit of 20 years for CLAT and other LLB entrance examination.

OUR TAKE

The decision of the SC to conduct a common examination that is uniformly applicable to every appearing candidate and student is praiseworthy but it must maintain the standards of such exam by not overlooking the interest of over-aged candidates. The state cannot take irrational and unreasonable measures because future of many students is dependent on such decisions.