MBBS Aspirant With 40% UDID Must Be Considered If Mop-Up Counselling Fills Vacancies, Despite 18% Assessment: Madras HC

The petitioner, who sought admission to the MBBS course under the PwBD category, held a permanent UDID card certifying 40% hearing impairment.

A medical assessment recorded her impairment as 19%; following an earlier writ petition, the appellate authority reassessed it at 18%.

The petitioner sought to quash the later assessment and have her case considered on the basis of her UDID card.

By the time of this petition, counselling had concluded and all seats had been allotted.

The Court relied on the order in S. Prasanth v. National Medical Commission & Ors., W.P.(MD) No. 37032 of 2026, which held that the disability percentage recorded in a UDID card issued by the competent authority should be followed, and disfavoured a fresh determination of the extent of disability.

The Court also referred to the earlier order in the petitioner’s case, which had directed appellate reassessment and provided for accommodation if the assessment was 40% or more.

The Court observed that the petitioner faced obstacles because the appellate assessment was below 40% and counselling was already over.

However, it considered her similarly situated to Prasanth, whose UDID-based disability percentage had been accepted and whose case had resulted in relief.

On that basis, it held that the petitioner should not be treated differently if a mop-up process took place, while leaving the decision whether to conduct such counselling to the authorities.

The Court directed that, if mop-up counselling is conducted to fill vacant seats, the petitioner’s case be considered by treating her disability as 40%, as recorded in her UDID card.

No costs were awarded; the connected miscellaneous petitions were closed.