Authority: Supreme Court of India

Order Date: 21-07-2026

Case Overview

  • Petitioner: Anmol (Miscellaneous Application No.378/2025, CA No.14333/2024) versus Union of India and other respondents including National Testing Agency (NTA) and National Medical Commission (NMC).
  • The dispute centres on the "Guidelines on Assessment of Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PvBD) for Admission to MBBS Course, 2026" and the establishment, composition, and functioning of Disability Assessment Boards (DABs) as mandated by earlier Supreme Court judgments.
  • Union of India filed an affidavit dated 14 July 2026 stating that 33 DABs are currently notified and that it proposes to increase the number to 43, but the affidavit did not clarify compliance with the Court’s direction that each State and Union Territory must have at least one DAB.
  • Intervenor senior counsel Mr. Senthil Jagadeesan highlighted several deficiencies in the affidavit: (i) lack of clear information on the exact number of DABs per State/UT, (ii) absence of details on board composition, specifically the inclusion of a doctor or health professional with a disability, (iii) silence on training and sensitisation of board members as required by Om Rathore v. Director General of Health Services, (iv) no explanation on the constitution of an appellate body as directed in Onkar Ramchandra Gond v. Union of India, and (v) no mention of enabling units at medical colleges to act as contact points for students with disabilities.
  • NMC counsel, Mr. Gaurav Sharrma, stated that the Guidelines have been vetted and will be incorporated into the NEET Undergraduate prospectus for the academic year 2026‑27 and will also be uploaded on the NMC website.

Final Outcome

1. Union of India is directed to file a revised and comprehensive affidavit that clearly states the current number of Disability Assessment Boards, confirms that there is at least one DAB in each State and Union Territory, and explains steps taken to achieve this.

2. The affidavit must detail the composition of each DAB, ensuring that every board includes a doctor or health professional who himself/herself has a disability.

3. Union of India must provide a statement on the training and sensitisation programme for DAB members, as mandated by the Court’s judgment in Om Rathore.

4. Union of India must explain why no appellate body has been constituted at the level of the Director General of Health Services, and outline the steps it will take to establish such a body in accordance with Onkar Ramchandra Gond judgment.

5. Union of India must address the Court’s directive to set up enabling units at medical colleges that will serve as contact points for persons with disabilities seeking clinical accommodations and to inform students of these facilities.

6. All the above information must be filed in a detailed affidavit by 28 July 2026, to ensure that the directives are operational for the Academic Year 2026‑27.

7. NMC is assured that the Guidelines will be included in the NEET Undergraduate brochure for 2026‑27 and uploaded on its website shortly.

Topics: Disability Rights, Medical Education