In Brief
Two medical college applicants were denied MBBS admission due to partial colour vision deficiency (CVD), despite meeting merit thresholds. The High Court upheld the Medical Council of India's guidelines barring CVD candidates. The Supreme Court did not finally decide the controversy but held that blanket exclusion without considering fields where CVD doctors can safely practise constitutes regressive thinking. Emphasising constitutional inclusion principles and India's international disability obligations, the Court directed the MCI to constitute an expert committee to review diagnostic protocols, identify suitable medical specialties for CVD practitioners, and assess available aids—within three months—to enable a balanced, nuanced policy rather than total exclusion."
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