Physically disabled student's dream of MBBS comes true after court approval, AIIMS clearance

In a first, the Calcutta High Court has permitted a physically disabled student from Malda in West Bengal to study medicine, realizing his dream of becoming a doctor.

Prasanta Mondal, who was affected by polio in his childhood, has just three and a half working fingers on each of his hands. Notwithstanding the handicap, he passed his Higher Secondary exams and cleared the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) with his partially developed fingers. He attained an All India Rank of 1,61,404 and a PwBD category rank of 3,627.

His dreams were put on hold when Kolkata's SSKM Hospital, following a physical evaluation, ruled him ineligible for studying medicine. The hospital report mentioned that he could not grip surgical instruments such as scalpels and scissors, and on this ground, he was refused verification of admission.

Undeterred to abandon the case, Mondal shifted the Calcutta High Court against SSKM's report. A one-man bench headed by Justice Biswajit Basu ordered a second test at AIIMS Mumbai.

The AIIMS panel held that though his health presented difficulties, it would not hinder him from pursuing medicine.

Moving on this report, Justice Basu directed the authorities to grant Mondal's verification and admission under PwBD quota. Mondal's lawyer, advocate Sarwar Jahan, stated that his client's persistence has now been vindicated.

The court also questioned seriously SSKM's evaluations. Referring to an identical case concerning Chandan Majhi of Purulia, who is in a wheelchair and was also found unfit by SSKM but cleared subsequently by a hospital in Delhi, Justice Basu said, "This is not the first time SSKM hospital has rejected clearance where other premier centers like AIIMS or other Delhi hospitals have done so. Why this consistent disparity? Is SSKM hospital superior to all others?"

With this court verdict, Prasanta Mondal, who has an aspiration to become a doctor, can now start his MBBS journey.