In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court has ruled that the National Medical Commission’s requirement for MBBS candidates with disabilities to have “both hands intact” is arbitrary and unconstitutional. The ruling paves the way for greater inclusivity in medical education, ensuring that functional ability—rather than rigid physical criteria—determines eligibility.
A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan found the regulation in direct conflict with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, and Article 41 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to work and education. The court denounced the requirement as an outdated relic of ableist thinking, emphasizing that “there cannot be a ‘one size fits all’ approach” to assessing medical aspirants with disabilities.
The case revolved around a petitioner who was denied admission to an MBBS program due to his disability. The Supreme Court overruled an earlier judgment from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, stating that the candidate’s functional capabilities had not been adequately assessed. The court highlighted previous judgments that stress a holistic evaluation rather than a mere percentage-based disability classification.
Citing the need for updated medical education policies, the court referenced previous directives for the National Medical Commission to revise its guidelines. It noted that the “both hands intact” requirement had already been rejected in prior rulings and reaffirmed that candidates should not be barred at the outset but given opportunities to prove their competence.
The court has now sought a status update from the National Medical Commission regarding its promised revision of guidelines. The matter is set to be reviewed in March.