Supreme Court Advocates Reduced NEET-SS Cut-off for In-Service Government Doctors

The Supreme Court on Wednesday orally observed that the qualifying percentile for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Super Speciality (NEET-SS) should be lowered for in-service government doctors, recognising their dual role of serving the public while pursuing further studies.

A Bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi made the remarks during a hearing on a petition filed by the Tamil Nadu Medical Officers Association. The petition challenged the diversion of 152 super speciality seats earmarked for in-service government doctors in Tamil Nadu to the All India Quota.

“If you just take away super speciality seats and transfer to the All India Quota, how will the State doctors benefit? They work for the people of the State. They work in State government hospitals. The seats were earmarked for them to enable them to achieve greater skills to heal the public,” Justice Nagarathna said.

The court emphasised that in-service government doctors are an essential part of public health infrastructure and should receive a concession in qualifying cut-offs. “Unlike someone who can sit at home and study, the government doctors are working and studying. They are an essential part of the public health infrastructure… The qualifying percentile has to be reduced for them,” the judge observed.

Senior advocate P. Wilson, representing the association, argued that in-service doctors serve in remote areas and are bound to public service until retirement. “I should get the concession of a reduced cut-off at least,” he submitted.

The petition noted that Tamil Nadu had earmarked 219 super speciality seats for in-service candidates for the 2025-2026 academic year, but only 68 candidates joined after two rounds of counselling, leaving 152 seats vacant. Over 111 candidates remain on the waiting list, many of whom narrowly missed the current qualifying percentile. The association argued that a reduction in the percentile, as has been done in previous sessions, would make them eligible.

“Available counselling data indicates that nearly 1,800 super speciality seats remain unfilled across the country. In such circumstances, diversion of 152 seats earmarked for in-service government doctors serves no compelling public purpose,” the petition stated.

The court issued notice to the Union government, the Director General of Health Services, the National Medical Council, the State of Tamil Nadu, and the Medical Counselling Committee. The next hearing is scheduled for July 15.