NEET-PG 2025: Delhi High Court Upholds Cut-Off Reduction, Says No Arbitrariness In Policy Decision

The Delhi High Court has recently dismissed a petition challenging the decision of the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) reducing the qualifying cut-off percentile for NEET-PG 2025 examination after commencement of the admission process.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said that the decision to reduce the eligibility criteria was taken after due deliberations and the eligibility criteria was recalibrated to ensure the optimal utilisation of the vacant seats.

“It is a trite law that the judicial review of administrative action and policy decision taken by the Executive is permissible only on the ground of arbitrariness and perversity,” the Court said.

“Accordingly, we do not find any ground to interfere with the ongoing process of Round - 3 of the counselling for NEET-PG 2025 in absence of any perversity in the decision to reduce the eligibility criteria as notified by the Impugned Notice. In view of the same, the present Petition is hereby dismissed,” it added.

The Bench dismissed a plea filed by a candidate challenging a notice issued by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences on January 13 revising qualifying percentiles for NEET-PG 2025.

The candidate contended that lowering the cut-off mid-admission process diluted merit standards, posed risks to healthcare quality, and violated public policy as well as constitutional obligations under Articles 21 and 47 of the Constitution of India.

It was argued that the relaxation was aimed merely at filling approximately 9,000 vacant seats and amounted to a post-facto dilution of academic standards.

Dismissing the plea, the Court rejected the submission of the candidate that lowering the eligibility criteria will reduce the meritocracy and can be a threat to safety of the patients and quality of healthcare. It added that expanding the pool of candidates will enhance the possibility of seat occupancy in Round - 3 of counselling and Stray Vacancy Round, if conducted.

“It will result in ensuring optimal utilisation of the Post Graduate medical seats and avoiding potential vacancies. Permitting more candidates to participate in the counselling round by lowering the eligibility criteria will, in fact, ensure that all the vacant seats are utilised,” the Court said.

It added that merely by lowering the eligibility criteria for counselling will not reduce the merit as the actual admission will be based on the merit and ultimately the selected candidates will have to undergo the Post Graduate medical course to qualify for the Post Graduate Degree or Diploma.

“Hence, it will be in public interest to have all the vacant seats duly filled up to enable the candidates to specialise and make them more skilled in the chosen area of specialisation,” the Court said.

Title: SANCHIT SETH v. NATIONAL BOARD OF EXAMINATION IN MEDICAL SCIENCES & ORS

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