NEET 2019: SC allows candidates of age 25 and above to appear for the exam

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 29: In its latest judgement, the Supreme Court of India has allowed the candidates crossing the age limit i.e. 25 and above (30 and above in case of reserved categories) to take the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2019. As per the sources, the admission to medical and dental courses for these candidates will be subject to the final outcome of the case.

As the eligibility clause of upper age limit is removed, for the time being, the apex court has directed the National Testing Agency (NTA), exam conducting body, to provide prospective test takers with an interim relief of 7 days. The application deadline of NEET 2019 is November 30 and it will not be feasible for candidates who are now eligible to take NEET to fill the application within two days. The next hearing will take place in February.

The ANI has tweeted, “ SC directed the National Testing Agency to extend the deadline by one week to allow the students to fill up the NEET form, as the filling up of forms expires tomorrow.”

Currently, there has been no intimation given by the NTA regarding the extension of the date. Candidates who were 25 years of age or more were allowed to appear for NEET 2018 also. However, the results of such candidates were not issued and were later declared ineligible as the Delhi High Court held the norms as valid and legal. The reason given by the court was that the younger students are at a disadvantage as the older candidates can appear for NEET as many times as they wish. The case was then filed in the Supreme Court.

As per the current eligibility criteria, unreserved candidates who are born on or before May 6, 1994 (May 6, 1989, for reserved and PwD candidates) are not eligible for NEET 2019. The application form for NEET 2019 was released on November 1 and the last date to submit application fee is December 1.