Ashok Bahara, believed to be the oldest candidate to appear for NEET-UG 2026, has approached the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court seeking a 1% reservation for senior citizens in MBBS and other medical admissions through the national entrance examination.

Bahara, a septuagenarian who appeared in both the May 3 NEET-UG 2026 examination and the June 21 re-examination, has urged the court to direct the Union Ministry of Education to formulate a policy providing a special quota for eligible senior citizens in medical colleges.

The petition, filed on July 13, comes after Bahara's earlier representations to the Centre on May 5 and June 26 reportedly received no response. The first hearing is expected later this week.

In his plea, Bahara argued that the government's inaction on his representations is "arbitrary, unreasonable and violative of the principles of fair administration." The petition seeks a writ of mandamus directing the Centre to consider and decide on a policy for reservation or a special quota for senior citizens in medical admissions within a timeframe set by the court.

Petition cites absence of reservation for senior citizens

The petition points out that several categories, including Persons with Disabilities (PwD), freedom fighters, ex-servicemen, and sportspersons, receive reservation or special benefits during admissions, while senior citizens currently have no such provision despite being eligible to appear for the examination.

Bahara's counsel, Advocate Pankaj Dheer Singh Rana, argued that the demand is consistent with judicial developments related to NEET eligibility.

"The Supreme Court removed the age ceiling for the NEET-UG examination, recognising that senior citizens have the right to pursue medical education if they choose. If they are eligible to compete for medical seats, there should also be consideration for reservation," Rana said.

He added that the petition has a strong legal basis and expressed confidence about its prospects before the High Court.

NEET-UG age limit removed in 2022

The National Medical Commission (NMC) removed the upper age limit for NEET-UG candidates in March 2022, following earlier directions from the Supreme Court, which had granted provisional permission to candidates above 25 years to appear for the examination in 2018.

Bahara has previously said that his decision to pursue medicine is driven by a deeply personal commitment. He wants to fulfil the last wish of his late mother, Saivthri Devi, who had hoped he would become a doctor. He also intends to use his medical education to serve residents of the Divya Prem Ashram, which he is developing in his native village of Gehru in Lucknow.

His family already has a strong medical background, with his wife working as a gynaecologist and nearly 20 doctors among his close relatives.

The case is likely to draw attention to the broader debate on medical education access, age inclusivity, and reservation policies under the NEET-UG admission process.