19-year-old NEET aspirant from MP goes viral for arguing his own case in Supreme Court, wins MBBS seat

Teen from MP wins MBBS seat after arguing own case. (Image: @divya_gandotra/ X)

A 19-year-old boy from Madhya Pradesh is going viral for taking an unusual route to secure his medical education. Atharva Chaturvedi argued his own case in the Supreme Court of India, standing alone in a courtroom full of senior lawyers.

As reported by the Times of India, Atharva had cleared the NEET 2024–25 examination with 530 marks out of 720, securing an EWS rank of 164. However, he was initially denied admission to private medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh because the state had not implemented the 10 per cent reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), as required under the 103rd Constitutional Amendment.

He told TOI, "I was nervous initially. But I studied the earlier orders carefully. I knew the law was on my side, so I just followed the legal provisions."

When Atharva first approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court, he cited Articles 15(6) and 16(6) of the Constitution, which mandate 10 per cent EWS reservation in private, non-minority educational institutions. The High Court directed the state to implement the reservation and increase seats within a year.

Despite this direction, the state failed to enforce the policy in the next admission cycle. Atharva, again denied admission despite his qualifying rank, decided to approach the Supreme Court through an online petition.

"Travelling to Delhi repeatedly was difficult and expensive. That's why I chose to file the petition online and appear virtually," he said. His father, advocate Manoj Chaturvedi, helped him understand earlier judgments, but Atharva insisted the decision to argue the case personally was his own.

On 10 February 2026, a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant heard his case. In the viral video, Atharva requested ten minutes to present his arguments. In that short span, he explained how the state’s inaction had unfairly denied him a medical seat. He cited constitutional provisions, earlier judicial directions, and administrative lapses to make his case.

Court observers noted the clarity and confidence with which he presented complex legal issues, saying it was rare even among experienced lawyers. His story soon began circulating widely, earning praise for its courage and perseverance.

The video of Atharva in court is going viral, with many praising his confidence and determination. However, Moneycontrol could not independently verify whether the footage was taken during his arguments in the Madhya Pradesh High Court or in the Supreme Court.

“मुझे बस 10 मिनट चाहिए”

These words came not from a senior lawyer, but from 19-year-old NEET aspirant Atharva Chaturvedi, who fought his own case in the Supreme Court after being denied an MBBS seat despite scoring 530. He studied law himself, drafted his petition, and stood… pic.twitter.com/taHSLZBD0z — Divya Gandotra Tandon (@divya_gandotra) February 19, 2026

As per reports, the Supreme Court recognised that Atharva had been denied admission due to circumstances beyond his control. Invoking Article 142, which allows the court to pass any order necessary to do complete justice, the bench directed the National Medical Commission and the Madhya Pradesh government to ensure his admission to a private medical college. The court also warned that any further delay could cause irreversible harm to a deserving candidate.