Allahabad HC Stays 91% Reservation in NEET-UG Admissions at Four UP Medical Colleges
The court has put the nearly 91% reservation arrangement on hold but allowed NEET-UG counselling to continue under the reservation percentages followed by other government medical colleges
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has stayed the implementation of nearly 91% reservation for MBBS admissions through NEET-UG at four government medical colleges in Uttar Pradesh.
The order applies to the current 2026-27 admission session at government medical colleges in Ambedkar Nagar, Kannauj, Saharanpur and Jalaun.
Counselling to Continue
While staying the disputed reservation arrangement, the court allowed the NEET-UG counselling process to continue.
A bench comprising Justice Alok Mathur and Justice Amitabh Kumar Rai permitted counselling based on the reservation percentages applicable to other government medical colleges in the state. This includes 21% reservation for Scheduled Castes, 2% for Scheduled Tribes and 27% for Other Backward Classes.
However, admissions made through this process will remain subject to the final outcome of the ongoing proceedings.
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Petition Challenges Seat Allocation
The petition challenges the reservation arrangement for state-quota seats in the four medical colleges.
Senior advocate A N Tripathi, representing the petitioners, told the court that the state government had previously assured the court that the reservation system would be brought in line with statutory provisions from the 2026-27 academic session.
The petitioners argued that despite this assurance, the total reservation in the four colleges had reached nearly 91%, contrary to the applicable statutory framework.
Court Issues Contempt Notice
The High Court also issued a show-cause notice to the Additional Chief Secretary, Medical Education Department.
The official has been asked to explain why criminal contempt proceedings should not be initiated for allegedly failing to comply with an undertaking given before the court during earlier proceedings.
Case Dates Back to 2025 Judgment
The latest order follows the Allahabad High Court’s August 2025 judgment, in which it struck down the earlier reservation arrangement in the same four medical colleges.
The court had found that a series of state government orders had pushed the reservation level beyond the prescribed limit under the Uttar Pradesh Reservation Act, 2006 and directed the state to redraw the seat matrix according to statutory provisions.
The latest proceedings will determine whether the revised reservation arrangement complies with the applicable legal framework.
Anjali is an education journalist with over a year of experience in digital and business journalism. She has previously worked with BW Businessworld and ANI, where she gained experience in news writing, editing, research, and fact-checking. At Jagran Josh, she writes education news and covers competitive exams and current affairs, with a keen interest in delivering accurate, informative, and reader-focused content. She holds a BA from Miranda House, University of Delhi, and a postgraduate diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). Anjali enjoys reading and exploring new ideas and perspectives through books.
