Supreme Court asks Centre to respond to plea to reduce percentile for NEET-SS in-service candidates
The Supreme Court of India has directed the Union Government to consider a plea from the Tamil Nadu Medical Officers Association to lower the qualifying percentile for NEET-SS exams. The request aims to fill vacant in-service seats that were previously diverted to the All India Quota.
Why it matters
The case highlights the tension between state-level medical reservation policies and national-level admission quotas, impacting the availability of specialized medical professionals.
The Supreme Court on Monday (August 24, 2026) asked the Centre to consider a plea by the Tamil Nadu Medical Officers Association seeking reduction of the cut-off or qualifying percentile for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Super Speciality seats (NEET-SS) for in-service government doctors.
A Bench headed by Justice P.S. Narasimha heard senior advocate P. Wilson, for the association, on an application seeking the Centre to return 100% of the unfilled in-service seats to the State.
The Union Government had submitted that out of the 152 seats transferred by the State of Tamil Nadu, approximately 40 seats continued to remain vacant.
Mr. Wilson submitted that the entire 40 in-service seats must be returned to the State of Tamil Nadu, as 111 candidates were awaiting a reduction in the qualifying percentile.
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