'I just need 10 minutes': 19-year-old NEET aspirant argues own case in SC
Jabalpur's Atharva Chaturvedi was awarded a provisional MBBS seat after winning the case
Without any formal legal background, he started learning on his own, studied judgments and understood court procedures... and filed his own case.
For many what would have been the end and disappointment, a 19-year-old NEET aspirant from Jabalpur chose courage. Meet Atharva Chaturvedi, who chose to argue his own case in the Supreme Court.
Left out of admission process
Atharva, who cleared NEET 2024–25 with 530 marks out of 720, was left out of the admission process due to the state’s failure to implement the Economically Weaker Section reservations in private medical colleges.
The 19-year-old argued his own case before the Madhya Pradesh High Court and the Supreme Court of India, and was awarded a provisional MBBS seat after winning the case.
In a post shared on X, user Kungfu Pande shared the details of the case. He wrote, “Atharva cleared NEET twice. He scored 530 marks. He worked hard, stayed focused and never gave up. Yet, due to policy gaps, he was denied an MBBS seat under the EWS quota. Without any formal legal background, he started learning on his own."
"मुझे बस 10 मिनट चाहिए" ⏳
These words did not come from a senior lawyer.
They came from a 19-year-old student — Atharva Chaturvedi — who simply wanted a fair chance to become a doctor. 🩺✨
Atharva cleared NEET twice.
He scored 530 marks.
He worked hard, stayed focused, and… pic.twitter.com/WyZMqRnh73
— Kungfu Pande 🇮🇳 (Parody) (@pb3060) February 18, 2026
Cited the 103rd Constitutional Amendment
The young NEET aspirant cited the 103rd Constitutional Amendment and Articles 15(6) and 16(6), which mandate 10 per cent EWS reservation in private and non-minority educational institutions. The court directed the state to implement EWS reservation in private medical colleges within a year. However, the policy remained unimplemented in the next admission cycle as well.
Even though Atharva secured an EWS rank of 164 in NEET 2025–26, he again did not get admission and moved the apex court through an online petition. On February 10, Atharva sought 10 minutes to present his case before a Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant.
"I just need 10 minutes"
“Inside the Supreme Court of India, his case was listed before a three-judge bench led by Justice Surya Kant. Surrounded by senior advocates, a 19-year-old boy stood alone — prepared and confident. As the bench was about to rise, he gathered all his courage and said, ‘My Lords, I just need 10 minutes’," the post added.
The Supreme Court ruled that Atharva was denied admission due to circumstances beyond his control and the state authorities’ failure to comply with earlier judicial directions. The court directed the National Medical Commission and the Madhya Pradesh government to ensure Atharva’s admission to an MBBS course in a private medical college.
