New circular allows J&K undergraduate candidates with disabilities reservation in NEET counselling

The Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations has issued a circular clarifying that undergraduate candidates with disabilities will be given reservation in NEET counselling. An earlier brochure made no mention of this putting many qualified candidates in a state of anxiety

“It is, therefore, notified for information of the NEET, UG, PwD eligible candidates that they can deposit personally their Disability Certificates duly issued by the Competent Authority along with NEET score”.

This circular signed by Dr Sunil Gupta, Controller of Examinations, Jammu, and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE) comes as a huge relief to undergraduate candidates with disabilities who have qualified for the medical entrance (NNET) exams this year.

An earlier order issued by JKBOPEE made no mention of the 5% reservation guaranteed to people with disabilities mandated by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act 2016 and J&K Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2020.

Petition to J&K Lt. Gov.

The lapse had been taken up by Doctors with Disabilities, the pan India body of health professionals with disabilities. They had petitioned the Lieutenant Governor of the state to urgently intervene.

Less than a week after their petition, come this circular.

We are glad on this victory as the Honourable Lt Gov acted on our representation to direct JKBOPEE and the Social Welfare Department to give rightful due to NEET students with disabilities. – Dr Satendra Singh, Co-founder, Doctors with Disabilities

This is not the first time the government of Jammu and Kashmir has ignored RPWD and Medical Council of India (MCI) guidelines for NEET candidates with disabilities. Last year the Greater Kashmir newspaper reported the story of Safiya Nazir, s student with visual impairment, who was made to run around by various authorities even though she was qualified under the physically disabled category. Due to the unavailability of a specific disabled policy in the state’s admission policy, she was subject to harassment.

Many disabled candidates affected

“Many such candidates missed out last year because of their apathy.”, adds Dr Singh, who says this points to the need for greater interdepartmental coordination among government authorities. “This has to happen if we wish to see the RPWD Act and JK RPD Rules 2020 being implemented in letter and spirit”.

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