A 19-year-old NEET aspirant from Jabalpur, Atharva Chaturvedi, has secured a provisional MBBS seat after personally arguing before the Supreme Court of India that the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) reservation policy was not being implemented in private medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh.
Despite scoring 530 out of 720 in NEET 2024–25 and later obtaining an EWS rank of 164 in 2025-26, Atharva was denied admission due to the absence of a clearly operational EWS quota in private institutions. After earlier directions by the Madhya Pradesh High Court went unimplemented, he moved the apex court through an online petition.
On February 10, a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant invoked Article 142 of the Constitution to direct the state government and the National Medical Commission to ensure his admission, observing that he had been denied his rightful opportunity due to administrative lapses beyond his control.
A Young Citizen Who Placed the Constitution First
“I didn’t argue emotionally, I simply placed the law as it is,” Atharva said while recounting the moment he stood before the country’s highest court. His argument rested on the 103rd Constitutional Amendment, which introduced 10 per cent reservation for Economically Weaker Sections in educational institutions, including private, non-minority colleges, under Articles 15(6) and 16(6).
Atharva had earlier approached the High Court after being denied admission despite qualifying under the EWS category. The court had directed the state authorities to complete the process of increasing seats and implementing the EWS quota in private medical colleges within a year. However, when the next admission cycle arrived, the policy remained effectively unimplemented, leaving him once again without a seat despite securing a competitive rank.
Determined not to lose another academic year, he filed an online petition before the Supreme Court and chose to argue the matter himself. On February 10, as the bench was about to rise for the day, Atharva sought ten minutes to present his case.
The judges agreed. During his submission, he carefully explained the constitutional mandate, previous judicial directions, and the consequences of administrative delay. Observers present in court later remarked on the clarity and composure with which he articulated complex legal provisions a rare sight even among seasoned advocates.
In its order, the apex court noted that the petitioner had been deprived of admission due to circumstances beyond his control and that state authorities had failed to comply with earlier directions. Exercising its extraordinary powers under Article 142, the court directed that his admission be ensured without further delay, warning that any continued inaction could cause irreversible harm to a deserving candidate.
A Legal Fight Rooted in Access and Accountability
Atharva’s journey reflects not only personal resilience but also the systemic challenges that students from economically weaker backgrounds often face. While reservation policies are framed to promote inclusion and equitable access, their implementation at the institutional level can sometimes lag behind legislative intent. In this case, the absence of a clear operational framework for EWS seats in private medical colleges created a gap between constitutional promise and administrative practice.
Despite clearing NEET with 530 marks in 2024–25, Atharva found himself excluded from the admission process. The following year, even after improving his standing with an EWS rank of 164, the uncertainty persisted. Rather than giving up, he decided to pursue legal recourse.
His father, advocate Manoj Chaturvedi, helped him understand previous judgments and constitutional provisions, but Atharva made a conscious decision to represent himself. Travelling to Delhi repeatedly would have been financially burdensome, he said, and engaging senior counsel was not feasible. Filing the petition online and appearing virtually allowed him to present his case while continuing his studies.
The Supreme Court’s direction to the National Medical Commission and the state government effectively reaffirmed that administrative inaction cannot override constitutional rights. While officials have yet to issue detailed public statements explaining the delay in implementing the EWS quota in private colleges, the court’s intervention has highlighted the need for timely compliance with judicial orders.
Even after his courtroom success, Atharva has maintained that his ultimate goal remains unchanged: to become a doctor. Friends and well-wishers have jokingly suggested that the legal profession may be calling him, but he continues to prepare for his medical education with renewed determination.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Atharva Chaturvedi’s story is both inspiring and instructive. It demonstrates the power of constitutional literacy and the courage to seek justice through peaceful, lawful means. At a time when many young people feel overwhelmed by systems that appear distant or unresponsive, his example shows that informed citizenship can make a difference.
Yet, this case also raises important questions about governance and accountability. Reservation policies are designed to correct structural inequities and expand access to opportunity. When their implementation falters, the very communities they aim to support bear the consequences.
