NEET 2020 Counselling: Candidate denied admission despite securing high rank, court to the rescue

NEET 2020 admission rule states that candidates having disability levels below 80 per cent could gain admission to MBBS under the special category.

NEET 2020 Admission: A physically challenged candidate was denied admission to the MBBS course despite being allotted a seat in a medical college after securing a high rank in the all-important National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). According to the reports, the Kerala High Court has come to the aid of the candidate, P Aswathy. Ms Aswathy belongs to Kakkara locality of Karuvarakundu in Malappuram district, had overcome cerebral palsy to secure 556th rank in the NEET special category. She was then allotted an MBBS seat in the Government Medical College, Manjeri. Following this, she was subsequently asked to appear before the medical board at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College for the fitness examination. The fitness examination resulted in the rejection of Ms Aswathy as the medical board certified that Aswathy was unfit to pursue a medical or dental course as her right hand lacked the required mobility.

According to the reports released by the medical board, Aswathy has 63.3 per cent disability. However, the admission rule states that candidates having disability levels below 80 per cent could gain admission to MBBS under the special category. Pointing out the same, Aswathy approached the Kerala High Court. Talking about her experience and the thoughts she went through after the rejection, Awasthy narrated, "First I thought I will come back home, then I started thinking about it. Why should I give up in the last lap? I have sailed through my hardships and reached till here not to give up. I repeated one year after my 12th standard just to achieve what I got now. No one anticipated what followed." Ruling in Aswathy’s favour, the court observed that as the deadline for admission to the MBBS course ends soon, it was not possible for her to seek the opinion of another medical board. Considering the situation, the court directed the Principal of Manjeri Medical College to admit Aswathy for the MBBS course.

Awasthy further stated, "Either the Medical Council should specify such criteria before exams or mention them in the prospectus. Studying hard, clearing exams and then rejecting it during the allotment is quite depressing. I might not be the only student to face such an issue. So such things should be made clear." "I felt really relieved when I was finally allowed to study. I wish to do my higher studies in General Medicine," she added.

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