The Delhi High Court has emphasized that the right to pursue higher and professional education, though not explicitly listed as a fundamental right under the Constitution, imposes a duty on the government to protect students’ academic progress. The court stated that this right cannot be curtailed lightly.
A single-judge Bench, led by Justice Jasmeet Singh, passed the observation while hearing a writ petition filed by a medical student whose MBBS admission was cancelled following alleged irregularities linked to the NEET-UG 2024 examination.
“The right to pursue higher or professional education is an affirmative obligation of the State and cannot be curtailed lightly in the absence of valid and compelling reasons,” the court said.
Case Background
The petitioner had secured admission to Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital, Balangir, Odisha, after obtaining an All India Rank of 28,106 in NEET-UG 2024. However, the National Testing Agency (NTA) later withdrew his result based on information provided by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The court noted that the petitioner’s admission was merit-based through a transparent entrance examination, and cancelling it would disrupt his academic journey.
Court’s Observations
The CBI clarified that the student was not named as an accused in the investigation but was listed only as a witness. Considering this, Justice Singh held that there was no prima facie evidence of wrongdoing that would justify terminating his admission.
The court directed the authorities to allow the petitioner to continue attending MBBS classes as per the prescribed curriculum, ensuring that his professional education remains uninterrupted.
Significance of the Judgment
This ruling reinforces that the State has an affirmative obligation to safeguard students’ educational rights, especially in professional courses like medicine. It also highlights the importance of merit-based academic progression and ensures that students are not penalized for alleged irregularities in which they have no proven involvement.
The judgment is expected to serve as a precedent for protecting the rights of students across India, particularly in cases where administrative or procedural actions threaten to disrupt academic careers.
