The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice on a petition seeking horizontal reservation for transgender candidates in postgraduate medical seats filled through the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Postgraduate courses (NEET PG).

A Bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan sought the Centre’s response to a plea filed by three transgender MBBS graduates, who have demanded a 1% horizontal reservation in PG medical admissions.

The petitioners argue that the current NEET PG 2025-26 notification, issued in April, violates the Supreme Court's landmark 2014 judgment in National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) v. Union of India. In that ruling, the Court had directed the government to recognize transgender persons as socially and educationally backward and to extend reservations in public employment and education.

According to the plea, the NEET PG notification also contravenes provisions of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, which obligates the government to ensure the full and effective inclusion of transgender individuals in all spheres of life, including education.

The petitioners have contended that the current admission framework is unconstitutional, as it violates Articles 14 (equality before law), 15 (prohibition of discrimination), 19(1)(a) (freedom of expression), and 21 (protection of life and personal liberty) of the Indian Constitution.

They have urged the Court to stay the NEET PG notification dated April 16, 2025, and to direct the issuance of a fresh notification incorporating horizontal reservation for transgender candidates in postgraduate medical courses.

The plea highlights that in the absence of such reservations, transgender students — many of whom face significant social and systemic barriers — are denied equal opportunity despite their qualification. The petitioners represent diverse backgrounds, including Scheduled Caste, Other Backward Class, and General categories.

The petition has been filed through Advocate Paras Nath Singh.