Man Seeks MBBS Admission for Visually Impaired Son

CHENNAI:
The father of a candidate with an alleged visual impairment of 75% moved the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday seeking a direction to allow his son to pursue MBBS course.
M. Jabakar of Tirunelveli said his son J. Vibin had visual impairment assessed at 75%. After successfully clearing the public examination and NEET, he was placed at rank 285 of the all India quota, under the special category. He claimed that he was allotted Pudukkottai Medical College Hospital following online counselling.
The college sought a copy of the allotment order and a disability certificate issued by the Madras Medical College. Following a test, the MMC issued a certificate for 90% visual impairment. The certificate further added that the candidate was not fit for the course. This was contrary to the certificate issued by the Government of Tamil Nadu, he said.
He claimed that the certificate was not signed by the specialist concerned and was incomplete. Meanwhile, the college also turned down the admission stating that visual impairment was more than 40% and he would not be eligible for admission. This act of the college was in violation of Section 32 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
He pointed out that the Supreme Court had recently held that candidates could not be denied admission to MBBS course if they qualified as per merit in the special category. He further said that his son’s visual impairment was 75% and had it been 90%, he would not have managed to fill up the OMR sheets for NEET. He sought a direction to the college to admit him in MBBS course.
Taking up the plea for hearing, Justice V. Parthiban directed the counsel for the State to get instructions and adjourned the case for further hearing.