A 71-year-old NEET UG 2026 aspirant has approached the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court seeking a separate reservation for senior citizens in MBBS admissions.
The petitioner, Ashok Bahar, has filed a writ petition requesting a one per cent reservation for eligible senior citizens pursuing undergraduate medical education. According to reports, the matter is scheduled to be heard on July 21.
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In his petition, Bahar argues that senior citizens deserve special consideration in the admission process, especially when reservations and concessions are already available for several other categories. He contends that if candidates of all ages are permitted to appear for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG), elderly aspirants should also be provided with a fair opportunity to secure admission to medical colleges.
The plea relies on the Supreme Court’s earlier decision to remove the upper age limit for appearing in NEET-UG. Bahar’s counsel, advocate Pankaj Dheer Singh Rana, submitted that while the apex court has opened the examination to candidates irrespective of age, there is no policy to address the challenges faced by senior citizens competing for medical seats.
According to the petition, a dedicated reservation for elderly candidates would ensure that the removal of the age restriction translates into meaningful access to medical education.
Bahar’s pursuit of a medical career dates back more than five decades. He first appeared for a medical entrance examination in 1974 but was unable to qualify. Despite the setback, he has continued to nurture his ambition of becoming a doctor.
With the matter now before the Allahabad High Court, the case has drawn attention to the broader debate over age, equal opportunity and reservation policies in higher education. The court’s decision could determine whether senior citizens should receive any special consideration in medical admissions alongside existing reservation categories.
