NEET Aspirant Moves Delhi High Court Over Delayed ESIC Certificate

A 17-year-old differently-abled student from New Delhi, Money Gupta, had to take her pursuit of medical admission to the Delhi High Court after bureaucratic delays in securing an essential quota certificate put her eligibility at risk.

Gupta, who was born with a limb impairment that makes walking difficult, studied at a Kendriya Vidyalaya and successfully qualified in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Her family had focused for months on helping her secure a seat in a medical college.

However, administrative challenges arose during the subsequent counselling process. Gupta learned that an Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) certificate was mandatory to avail herself of benefits under the ESIC quota, which provides a dedicated reservation category across ESIC medical colleges.

Although her family submitted the required documentation, they were unable to obtain the necessary certificate within the stipulated timeline set for the admission procedure. As counselling deadlines drew near, the family visited ESIC offices and contacted officials directly for assistance to resolve the issue.

With procedural delays persisting and the deadline running out, the matter escalated into a legal battle before the Delhi High Court to protect her admission prospects under the quota.