Reservation Demand For Wards Of Gallantry Awardee Military Personnel, Rajasthan High Court Rejects Claim

A Single Judge Bench of Justice Sameer Jain of the Rajasthan High Court dismissed a petition challenging the policy by under which the wards of Gallantry Award recipients were not included in the categories of reservation contrary to the policy in place in the year 2021. As per the information bulletin for NEET U.G-2021, the children of Gallantry awardee Military Personnel as well as Para-Military Personnel were to be given preference in admissions to MBBS/BDS courses against 1% quota for wards of ex-servicemen. The Counsel for the Petitioner submitted that the Petitioner was adversely affected and undue hardship was caused to him due to not being given priority which was due to him as per the information booklet containing priority list for NEET UG 2021, being a ward of Gallantry awardee Para-military personnel. Findings of the Court The Court observed that the issue was to determine the petitioners' candidature under 1% quota assigned to wards of Gallantry awardee Military and Para-Military personnel for admissions under NEET UG-2024 examination. It held that even though there was no category specific to wards of Gallantry awardee Para-Military personnel, no prima facie malafide was caused to the petitioner.