SC allows over aged to take NEET | Fusion - WeRIndia

Though the upper age limit age to appear for NEET UG exam is 25 years, the Supreme Court allowed the candidates of aged 25 years or above to apply and appear in the exams.

A three-judge Bench led by Justice S.A. Bobde observed that if the candidates are allowed to appear in the NEET-UG 2019 examination, they will take the examination provisionally.

The upper age limit to appear for the exams is 25 years for general candidates and 30 years for reserved candidates as per the MCI notification of January 22.

This was challenged in the Delhi High Court by filing pleas. Yet, these pleas were dismissed by the High Court.

The High Court struck down a clause in the January 22 notification due to which, several candidates who have studied in open schools were barred from taking the exams.

The Court also barred private candidates, the candidates who have studied Biology or Biotechnology as an additional subject and who had completed their 11th and 12th class in more than two years from appearing the NEET exams.

The High Court’s judgment was challenged by a group of aspirants in the Supreme Court arguing that the upper age limitation of 25 years was ‘completely arbitrary’.

They also argued that country needs more doctors and lifting upper age limit would help to get more talented doctors for the betterment of medical profession.

And the Supreme Court allowed the candidates aged over 25 years to appear for the exam. The Court directed the National Testing Agency (NTA) which is conducting the NEET exams to keep its portal open for a week so that the candidates can apply for the exam.

The Court also asked for the response of NTA to be filed in four weeks as it is a party in the case.

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