New Delhi: Disability rights activists are pressing the National Medical Commission (NMC) to implement two crucial Supreme Court judgments issued in October 2024 that mandate better accommodations for NEET aspirants with disabilities.
Supreme Court Verdicts and Key Directives
The Supreme Court rulings emphasized:
- Establishment of “Enabling Units” in medical colleges to assist students with disabilities in accessing necessary clinical accommodations.
- Creation of Equal Opportunity Cells to ensure fairness for marginalized groups, including Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Persons with Disabilities (PwD).
- A Centralized Database detailing accessibility provisions, assistive technologies, and reasonable accommodations in all medical colleges.
- Inclusion of Accessibility Information in the NEET-UG Application Portal by the National Testing Agency (NTA), allowing aspirants to make informed choices based on available support systems.
Activists Demand Urgent Action
The advocacy group Doctors With Disabilities: Agents of Change has written to the NMC, urging swift compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders. Their primary demands include:
- Immediate establishment of enabling units in all medical colleges.
- Clear guidelines on disability accommodations, formulated with input from disability rights experts.
- A public database of accessibility provisions to help students choose institutions suited to their needs.
Concerns Over NEET-UG 2025 Application Process
The NEET-UG 2025 exam is scheduled for May 4, with applications opening on February 7. However, the NTA’s official brochure lacks any mention of the Supreme Court’s accessibility directives.
Dr. Satendra Singh, a key advocate, condemned this omission, stating:
“This failure to include disability-related information constitutes contempt of court. The NMC and NTA are bound by Supreme Court orders, and compliance is not optional.”
Regulatory Inaction and Non-Compliance
Activists highlight a pattern of non-compliance by the NMC regarding disability rights. Despite multiple Supreme Court and Delhi High Court orders, adequate reforms have not been implemented.
Dr. Singh further insisted,
“Before the 2025-26 admission cycle begins, the NMC must ensure every medical college has an enabling unit and submits compliance reports detailing accessibility provisions.”
What the NMC Must Do to Ensure Compliance
To align with the Supreme Court’s mandates, the NMC must take the following actions:
- Establish Enabling Units in all medical colleges to provide disability support and accommodations.
- Develop a Comprehensive Accessibility Database covering assistive technologies, infrastructure, and clinical accommodations.
- Update the NEET-UG Application Portal to include college-wise accessibility details.
- Engage Disability Justice Experts in policymaking.
- Enforce Compliance Reports from Medical Colleges regarding the establishment of enabling units and accessibility improvements.
Ensuring Equal Access in Medical Education
As the NEET-UG 2025 examination approaches, activists are intensifying pressure on the NMC and NTA to act swiftly. The implementation of these Supreme Court directives is critical to ensuring equal access to medical education for students with disabilities.
The NMC’s response—or failure to act—will determine whether future generations of disabled aspirants are given a fair chance to pursue their medical careers.
