Supreme Court Orders Inclusion of 49 HIMSR PG Seats in NEET-PG Counselling 2025–26
Apex Court Prioritizes Student Interest Over Institutional Disputes
NMC Directed to Add Seats Despite Jamia Hamdard Affiliation Row
By Our Legal Reporter
New Delhi: January 29, 2026:
In a major relief for medical aspirants, the Supreme Court of India has ordered the National Medical Commission (NMC) to include 49 postgraduate medical seats of the Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (HIMSR) in the NEET-PG counselling 2025–26. The decision comes amid an ongoing affiliation dispute between HIMSR and Jamia Hamdard (Deemed University), which had earlier led to the withdrawal of these seats.
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The ruling, delivered by a bench of Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, ensures that students who worked hard to secure ranks in NEET-PG are not deprived of opportunities due to administrative conflicts.
Case Background
- Dispute: HIMSR faced withdrawal of 49 MD seats after Jamia Hamdard allegedly revoked its consent of affiliation.
- Impact: The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) excluded these seats from the NEET-PG seat matrix, leaving aspirants uncertain.
- Supreme Court’s Intervention: The Court directed NMC to restore the seats, stressing that otherwise they would go to waste for the academic year 2025–26.
Court’s Observations
The Supreme Court made several important points:
- Student-Centric Approach: The Court stated that “eligible candidates should not suffer due to disputes between institutions.”
- Urgency: Counselling was scheduled to begin on January 29, 2026, making immediate inclusion necessary.
- Balance of Interests: While the affiliation issue remains unresolved, the Court prioritized student welfare over institutional disagreements.
Significance of the Judgment
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- Relief for Aspirants: Hundreds of NEET-PG candidates now have access to 49 additional seats.
- Judicial Oversight: The ruling highlights the judiciary’s role in safeguarding student interests against bureaucratic hurdles.
- Precedent: Sets an example for similar disputes where student welfare must be prioritized.
Broader Implications
This case reflects larger challenges in India’s medical education system:
- Affiliation Disputes: Colleges often face delays due to regulatory and administrative conflicts.
- Seat Wastage: Without judicial intervention, valuable PG seats could remain unfilled.
- Need for Reform: Experts call for clearer guidelines to prevent students from being caught in institutional disputes.
Expert Commentary
Educationists and legal experts have welcomed the ruling, noting that it reinforces the principle that students’ rights must come first. They argue that while institutions may resolve their disputes in due course, academic seats should never be wasted.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court’s directive to include 49 HIMSR PG seats in NEET-PG counselling 2025–26 is a landmark in protecting student interests. By ensuring that aspirants are not penalized for institutional disputes, the Court has reaffirmed its commitment to fairness and justice in education.
This ruling is not just about one institute—it is a reminder that students’ futures must always take precedence over administrative conflicts.
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