UDF moves Supreme Court against ‘dangerous’ negative cut-offs in NEET-PG 2025-26
Shimla/New Delhi, January 16:
Following sustained reporting by himbumail.com on the shocking dilution of merit in NEET-PG, the United Doctors Front (UDF) has moved the Supreme Court challenging the decision to allow zero and even negative scorers to qualify for postgraduate medical admissions.
In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, UDF President Dr Lakshya Mittal and others have questioned the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) notification dated January 13, 2026, which drastically slashed the qualifying cut-off percentiles.
The petition, registered as Diary No. 3085/2026, has been filed through Advocate Satyam Singh Rajput along with Advocate Adarsh Singh and Advocate-on-Record Neema.
“Playing with lives of patients”
Reacting sharply, Dr Lakshya Mittal told himbumail.com: “Allowing candidates with negative marks to enter postgraduate medical training is nothing short of playing with the lives of patients.
This decision threatens public health and destroys the credibility of the medical profession.”
He warned that the move institutionalises mediocrity.
“Would anyone allow a failed pilot to fly a plane? Doctors deal with human lives every day. Compromising standards here amounts to criminal negligence,” Dr Mittal said.
Constitutional violation
The PIL states that the NBEMS decision is arbitrary, unconstitutional and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality and the right to life.
It also argues that the decision blatantly violates the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, which mandates maintaining minimum standards in medical education.
“Regulatory bodies are duty-bound to raise the bar, not bring it crashing down,” the UDF said.
Relief sought
The doctors’ body has sought immediate quashing of the NBEMS notification and directions from the apex court to restore minimum qualifying standards for NEET-PG.
The matter is likely to be listed before the Supreme Court in the coming days.
Portal’s impact
The controversy first snowballed after himbumail.com highlighted how negative scorers were being allowed to qualify, triggering outrage among doctors, medical students and parents across the country.
With the PIL now filed, the medical fraternity hopes the Supreme Court will step in to “save the profession before irreversible damage is done.”
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