SC allows Older MBBS aspirants over 25 to apply for NEET 2019, Deadline Extended

However, the apex court has also specified that their candidature will be subject to the final outcome of the case on validity of CBSE's decision to fix upper age limit.

New Delhi: In an Interim relief to older candidates planning to pursue their career in the field of Medicine, the Supreme court has allowed candidates over the age of 25 to apply for the NEET 2019 examination

Further, the Supreme Court has directed the National Testing Agency (NTA), which is conducting the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for 2019, NEET 2019, to extend the NEET deadline by one week to allow the medical aspirants to fill up the NEET form. Earlier the last date of application was November 30th, which has now been extended by another week. The NTA is soon expected to take out a notification to this effect

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that CBSE had imposed the age limit on the basis of a notification issued by the Medical Council of India on January 22, 2018, amending its Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997.

With the NTA taking over, the official NEET UG 2019 notification was released on November 1. The notification specified the upper age limit for students as 25 years as on the date of the examination which means any student above the age of 25 on May 5, 2019 is not eligible for the NEET UG exam this year.

The same was challenged before the court, with the candidates calling the age limit "arbitrary" adding that neither JIPMER, nor AIIMS have such upper limits. It further added that in developed countries there is no upper limit to studying medicine, explaining that such limits are not there even in the courses of engineering and law.

Even before candidates have demanded that the upper limit be quashed as it was violative of Articles 14, 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Constitution of India.

Providing interim relief, the apex court allowed medical aspiring candidates above the age of 25 years to appear in the NEET UG 2019 exam.

However, the apex court has also specified that their candidature will be subject to the final outcome of the case on validity of CBSE's decision to fix upper age limit.