Cannot keep seats everywhere in limbo: SC flags uncertainty over transgender reservation in NEET PG admissions

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has expressed concerns about reserving seats for transgender candidates in the upcoming NEET-PG 2025 admissions, saying it could create uncertainty in the process.

During the hearing, Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K Vinodchandran remarked, “We cannot keep seats everywhere in limbo, you are saying two seats in the All India Quota, 2 in the state quota.”

The comments came while the apex court was considering a plea seeking allocation of two seats in the All India Quota and one each in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh for transgender candidates.

Also read- SC to hear plea on Transgender reservation in PG medical education on September 18

Senior Advocate Indira Jaising, representing the petitioners, urged the court to pass an ‘innocuous order’ allotting these seats as an interim relief ahead of counselling. 

She argued that despite the judgment in NALSA v. Union of India, which recognised the rights of transgender persons, the Union and the States have not provided reservations for them in NEET-PG admissions.

As per Live Law  report, the petitioners, who belong to the transgender community, prayed for a direction that the respondents issue a fresh admission notice providing for compartmentalised horizontal reservation for transgender persons (including them) by reserving 1% seats in each vertical category.

Under the horizontal quota, transgender individuals, irrespective of whether they belonged to SC, ST, OBC, or general categories, would get the benefit of reservation on account of their belonging to the third gender.

During the proceedings, Jaising informed the court that Kiran A.R. (petitioner 1) withdraws from the case and only petitioners 2 and 3, who belong to the OBC and general categories respectively, would be pursuing the plea.

Appearing for the Union government and the medical authorities, Additional Solicitor General Archana Pathak Dave said Solicitor General Tushar Mehta wished to personally address the larger issue on the reservation of transpersons. However, Mehta was not present in today’s hearing. Therefore, she requested that the matter be kept for next week, i.e on September 23. 

Disagreeing with Jaising’s submission and accepting Pathak’s request, the bench said, “Counselling has not started. We will keep this matter for next week high on board.”

The bench noted the submission of the National Medical Commission counsel, who said counselling for admissions in PG courses hadn’t yet begun and said no immediate urgency was required for such an order.

The Supreme court previously said that if there was a top court order for granting quota to transgender persons, then it should be followed. Jaising said one of the issues was whether the quota for third gender persons would be horizontal or not.

According to Jaising, both petitioners had written the entrance exams, but ambiguity persisted over the cut-off marks applicable in case of transgender reservation being recognised.

Also read- Non-inclusion of disability, transgender rights in CBME Curriculum: Centre serves notice to NMC

Powered by WPeMatico

Manipur Floods: Patients evacuated from JNIMS Hospital

Imphal: The worsening flash flood situation in Manipur has led to the emergency evacuation of patients from the state’s premier government hospital, Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal. The unprecedented rise in water levels within and around the hospital complex prompted authorities to issue an immediate evacuation order for all inpatients. 

Also Read:Odisha Govt sends health teams to Flood-Hit districts

According to NDTV, “In the interest of patient safety, all current inpatients are to be evacuated from the hospital wards with immediate effect. Additionally, no new admissions will be accepted until further notice. The decision aims to ensure the well-being and safety of patients amidst the challenging situation,” the JNIMS statement said.

The order was signed by JNIMS Medical Superintendent Lokeshwar Singh with approval from higher authorities, reports Zee News.

The flash flooding was triggered by continuous torrential rainfall, leading to the breach of the Iril River at Kshetri Awang Leikai in Imphal East district early Monday morning. As of the latest reports, more than 5,000 households have been inundated and several hectares of cultivated land destroyed across Imphal East and Thoubal districts. Disruption of transport infrastructure, including landslides and road closures, has further complicated emergency response efforts.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rain and thunderstorms at most places in Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura till September 21, reports the NDTV.

Also Read:Imphal: JNIMS MBBS Interns Launch Indefinite Protest Demanding Stipend hike

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that through a recent notice, the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed the Nodal Officers in charge of District Residency Programme (DRP) to deploy PG medicos in the flood/disaster-affected areas of northern States/UTs.

The PG Board of the Apex Medical Commission clarified that the deployment of PG medical students in such areas shall be considered as part of the District Residency Programme training.

Powered by WPeMatico

Researchers boost widespread use of dental varnish across pediatric network

Researchers from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) demonstrated how a multifaceted intervention approach significantly improved the rate of dental varnish applications to help strengthen tooth enamel and prevent decay.

Powered by WPeMatico

Researchers boost widespread use of dental varnish across pediatric network

Researchers from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) demonstrated how a multifaceted intervention approach significantly improved the rate of dental varnish applications to help strengthen tooth enamel and prevent decay.

Powered by WPeMatico

How to tackle the ‘profound and lasting impact’ of COVID-19 on cardiovascular health

Millions of people around the world are suffering from the serious cardiovascular effects of COVID infection and long COVID. A lack of clear guidance on how to reduce this suffering and prevent further harm means that patients are not receiving the care they need, and some are turning to unproven or unsafe treatments.

Powered by WPeMatico

How to tackle the ‘profound and lasting impact’ of COVID-19 on cardiovascular health

Millions of people around the world are suffering from the serious cardiovascular effects of COVID infection and long COVID. A lack of clear guidance on how to reduce this suffering and prevent further harm means that patients are not receiving the care they need, and some are turning to unproven or unsafe treatments.

Powered by WPeMatico

A third of licensed GPs in England not working in NHS general practice

Despite rising patient demand and commitments to strengthen primary care, one in three GPs with a license to practice in England are not working in NHS general practice, finds a study published by The BMJ.

Powered by WPeMatico

Type 2 diabetes may accelerate development of multiple chronic diseases, study suggests

New research presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), Vienna (15–19 Sept), reveals type 2 diabetes (T2D) as a critical factor in chronic disease accumulation, particularly during the early stages.

Powered by WPeMatico

Research shows GLP-1RA drugs dramatically reduce death and cardiovascular risk in psoriasis patients

Psoriasis patients treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) face a 78% lower risk of death and a 44% lower risk of major cardiovascular events compared to those taking other diabetes or weight-loss medications, new research has shown.

Powered by WPeMatico

Rising Burden of Asthma and COPD Among Older Indians Linked to Social and Household Factors, Finds Study

India: A new study published in the Archives of Public Health sheds light on the growing burden of chronic lung diseases—Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)—among India’s middle-aged and elderly populations. Conducted by Aditi Chakraborty and colleagues from the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, the study reveals how social, individual, and household factors influence the prevalence of these conditions and their association with age-related health complications.

Using data from the first wave of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), the research offers the first nationally representative estimates of Asthma and COPD among individuals aged 45 years and above. The findings indicate that 4.38% of the surveyed population reported Asthma, while 2.1% had COPD.

The study revealed the following findings:

  • The risk of developing Asthma and COPD increases with age, especially after 60 years.
  • Individuals from wealthier backgrounds show higher prevalence rates of these conditions.
  • People belonging to socially disadvantaged groups (SC, OBC, or non-classified) are more likely to be affected.
  • Women are at a lower risk compared to men.
  • Those who have discontinued smoking face a higher risk of developing both Asthma and COPD.
  • Living in homes without a separate kitchen increases vulnerability to these conditions.
  • The use of open fires for cooking is linked to a higher risk, particularly for COPD.
  • Exposure to passive smoking raises the likelihood of developing COPD.
  • Regional variations exist, with lower risk seen in the northeast and higher prevalence in the southern regions of India.
  • Both Asthma and COPD are strongly associated with limitations in Activities of Daily Living (ADL).
  • These conditions are also linked to difficulties in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL).
  • A higher risk of falls is observed among individuals with Asthma or COPD.
  • The findings suggest that chronic lung diseases contribute significantly to functional decline and dependency among older adults.

“The research highlights the dual burden of chronic respiratory diseases and functional impairments in India’s ageing population,” the authors note. They call for an integrated healthcare approach that addresses both respiratory health and age-related syndromes.

Despite its insights, the study acknowledges limitations, including its reliance on self-reported data and its cross-sectional nature, which limit causal inference. The authors recommend future studies using longitudinal data and clinical diagnostics to better understand these associations over time.

“The study emphasizes the urgent need for targeted public health strategies that combine respiratory care with geriatric support. Strengthening health education, improving access to age- and gender-sensitive healthcare, enhancing diagnostic services, and mitigating household risk factors like indoor pollution and tobacco exposure are vital steps toward promoting healthy ageing in India,” the authors concluded.

Reference:

Chakraborty, A., Yadav, S. & Kumar, A.H.S.A. Chronic lung diseases (Asthma and COPD) among middle-aged and older populations in India: social, individual, and household determinants and their associations with geriatric syndromes. Arch Public Health 83, 186 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-025-01675-4

Powered by WPeMatico