The court upheld the University’s reservation policy for Armed Forces personnel, affirming that inclusion of Para-Military and Police Personnel is consistent with directives from both the Ministry of Defence and Home Affairs.

JUDGMENT :
SWARANA KANTA SHARMA, J.

1. The instant petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India has been filed on behalf of the petitioners seeking following prayers:

“a. Issue writ, order or direction in the nature of certiorari or any other appropriate writ, orders or directions to set aside/quash for issuance of writ, order or direction in the nature of certiorari or any other appropriate writ, orders or directions for setting aside/quashing of the Information Bulletin under graduate (MBBS/BDS) admission 2024-2025 issued by the respondent no.1 & 2 to the extent it includes children/widows of Para-Military Personnel/Personnel of Police Forces {upto priority (v) only} under quota “children/widows of Personnel of the Armed Forces (CW)” in admission in UG Medical Courses (MBBS/BDS/BAMS/BUMS/BHMS) Courses 2024- 2025 under 85% Delhi quota in medical colleges of the Respondent no.1 & 2.
b. issue writ, order or directions in the nature of certiorari or any other appropriate writ, orders or directions for setting aside/quashing of List of Provisionally Eligible candidates under the aforesaid “CW” category for admission to UG Medical Courses (MBBS/BDS/BAMS/BUMS/BHMS) 2024-2025 under 85% Delhi quota published by the respondent no. 1 & 2. 
c. Issue writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, orders or directions thereby directing the respondents no. 1 & 2 to publish a fresh I revised list of provisionally eligible candidates under “CW” category (after excluding the wards/widows of Para Military Personnel/Personnel of Police Forces {upto priority (v) only} for admission to UG Medical Courses (MBBS/BDS/BAMS/BUMS/BHMS) 2024-2025 under 85% Delhi quota.
d. Issue writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, orders or directions thereby directing the respondents no. 3 to issue allotment of seats falling under CW quota in Medical Courses (MBBS/BDS/BAMS/BUMS/BHMS) 2024-2025 under 85% Delhi quota as per the aforesaid fresh/revised list of eligible candidates under CW category and also for granting all consequential relief(s)...”

FACTUAL BACKGROUND
2. The facts of the case, as discernible from the petition, are that the father of petitioner had served in the Indian Air Force, after which he had attained the status of an ‘Ex-Serviceman‘. His daughter, i.e. the petitioner Ms. Anukriti Arya, had completed her Class 12th   (Science stream) from Delhi in 2021. She was eligible to appear in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) [hereafter ‘NEET (UG)-2024‘] for admission into Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) course. As the daughter of an Ex-Serviceman, Ms. Arya is entitled to reservation benefits under the Armed Forces/Defence Quota in educational institutions.

3. Respondents nos. 1 and 2, namely the Vice-Chancellor and the Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, respectively, of the University of Delhi [hereafter collectively referred to as ‘the University‘] issued the Information Bulletin - Under Graduate (MBBS/BDS) Admission 2024-2025 [hereafter ‘the Information Bulletin‘]. The Bulletin outlines admissions to various courses, including MBBS, in affiliated medical colleges.

4. It is stated that admission to the MBBS course is based on the All India Rank (AIR) secured in NEET (UG)-2024. The available seats in these medical colleges are divided into two quotas – the All India Quota, comprising 15% of the total seats, and the State Quota, comprising the remaining 85% for each of the colleges affiliated with the University.

5. In February 2024, Ms. Arya submitted the application form for NEET (UG)-2024, which was accepted. She was issued an Admit Card and she subsequently appeared for the examination. She secured 658 marks out of 720, resulting in an AIR of 20181 (Category Rank:8913).
 
6. The petitioner‘s grievance centers on the reservation policy concerning the ‘Children/Widows of Personnel of the Armed Forces (CW)‘ [hereafter ‘the CW Category‘]