‘Need 10 Minutes’: 19-Year-Old Argues His Own Case in Supreme Court, Wins Relief Over EWS Quota

New Delhi: In an extraordinary display of confidence and legal clarity, 19-year-old Atharva Chaturvedi argued his own case before the Supreme Court of India and secured relief in a matter concerning reservation under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota in private medical colleges.

Atharva, who cleared the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) not once but twice, scored 530 marks. Despite his performance, he was unable to secure an MBBS seat under the EWS category in private colleges because the concerned state had not implemented a policy extending EWS reservation benefits to private unaided institutions.

“I Need Just 10 Minutes”

During the hearing, Atharva reportedly sought permission to present his case himself, telling the bench he needed “just 10 minutes” to explain the issue. He argued that the constitutional amendment providing for 10% EWS reservation was meant to ensure equitable access to education and should not be rendered ineffective due to a policy vacuum at the state level.

The bench heard his submissions and examined whether the denial of EWS quota seats in private colleges amounted to unequal treatment of eligible candidates.

Core Issue: EWS in Private Colleges

The dispute centered on the implementation of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment, which introduced 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections in education and public employment. While several states extended the benefit to private educational institutions (except minority institutions), the state in question had not framed or notified rules to operationalise it in private medical colleges.

As a result, candidates like Atharva, despite qualifying under EWS criteria and clearing NEET with competitive scores, were effectively excluded from consideration in a significant number of seats.

Court’s Observations

The Supreme Court examined whether the absence of state policy could override the intent of the constitutional amendment. The bench reportedly took note of the larger principle of equal opportunity in education and the need for uniform implementation of reservation policies.

Following arguments, the court granted relief to Atharva, paving the way for his consideration under the EWS category.

A Rare Moment in Courtroom History

Legal observers described the case as remarkable not only for the outcome but also for the fact that a teenager personally presented constitutional arguments before the country’s highest court.

Atharva’s case has reignited discussion around consistent implementation of reservation policies across states and the challenges faced by students navigating admission frameworks in professional courses like MBBS.

The episode stands out as a rare instance of a young aspirant directly engaging with constitutional law and securing justice through the highest judicial forum in the country.