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Neppali Sai Vikash & Ors. vs Union of India & Ors.

Writ Petition (Civil) · 2022 INSC 496Decided 2 May 2022
Writ Petition (Civil) No. 124 of 2022
Dr Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud · Surya Kant

Background

The petitioners, aspiring postgraduate medical students, sought revival of an earlier writ petition seeking a further reduction in the NEET-PG eligibility cut-off percentile so that more candidates could fill vacant PG medical seats. The Union Health Ministry had already reduced the qualifying percentile by 15 points across categories on 12 March 2022. The petitioners argued that around 1,500-2,000 seats were still vacant and that a further 5-percentile reduction (as had been done the previous year) should be granted.

Decision Breakdown

The Court examined data placed on record by the Additional Solicitor General showing that most remaining vacancies were in "pre-para" teaching subjects that typically stay vacant, that the academic term was already running behind schedule, and that the earlier 15-percentile reduction had already made about 25,000 additional candidates eligible. Distinguishing an earlier precedent (Harshit Agarwal) where a percentile reduction had been directed for BDS admissions, the Court held that a policy decision on eligibility criteria falls within the executive's domain and will only be interfered with if manifestly arbitrary. Finding no arbitrariness in the Union's calibrated decision, the Court declined to direct a further reduction in the cut-off and dismissed the application.

Lesson Learnt

Courts will not ordinarily direct changes to academic/eligibility policy (such as exam cut-offs) merely because seats remain vacant; judicial review in such matters is limited to checking for manifest arbitrariness, and a reasoned, data-backed executive decision balancing seat-filling against maintaining educational standards will generally be upheld.

Official source (sci.gov.in)View Judgment (PDF)

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