On May 6, 2025, the Bombay High Court regularized the admissions of 93 students who had been admitted to the Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) courses in Maharashtra for the academic years 2013-14 and 2014-15 without appearing for the Common Entrance Test (CET). These admissions were initially made based on vacant seats after the first round of CET. The court acknowledged the case as “peculiar” and accepted the plea from the Association of Management of Homoeopathic Medical Colleges of Maharashtra to regularize the admissions. The court emphasized that this decision should not be cited as a precedent for future cases. Additionally, it noted that the Central Council for Homeopathy had clarified that the minimum qualification for admission to a homeopathic college is passing the 12th standard or Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination.

This ruling comes amidst ongoing legal discussions regarding admissions in homeopathic colleges in Maharashtra. In a previous case from July 2023, the Bombay High Court had refused to grant interim relief to BHMS students admitted without meeting the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) score criteria. The court observed that allowing such students to continue their education despite not meeting the NEET threshold would undermine the purpose of setting such criteria. The matter was subsequently directed to the Ministry of AYUSH for further consideration.

Furthermore, in October 2024, the Ministry of AYUSH had directed several homeopathic colleges in Maharashtra to pay penalties for admitting students without the requisite NEET scores or with marks below 50% in the Higher Secondary Examination. However, the enforcement of these penalties has been delayed, leaving eligible students in a state of uncertainty. The Ministry’s directive also included provisions for transferring irregularly admitted students to other recognized homeopathic colleges, subject to availability of infrastructure and seats.

These developments highlight the complex legal landscape surrounding admissions in homeopathic medical courses in Maharashtra, with courts and regulatory bodies navigating between adherence to established criteria and considerations of fairness for students.

Sources