Agartala, August 7: The Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF) has raised serious concerns over the inclusion of allegedly ineligible candidates in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) merit list for NEET (UG) 2026 published by the Tripura Medical Counselling Committee (TRMCC). On Thursday, the student body submitted separate memorandums to the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) and the Director of the Tribal Welfare Department, demanding immediate verification before the counselling process is finalized.
According to TSF, several candidates whose surnames and tribal affiliations are not recognized under Tripura’s notified Scheduled Tribe list have been included in the state’s ST merit list. The organization claimed that this could deprive genuine ST candidates of their rightful reservation benefits.
The memorandum specifically mentions four candidates Jiyen Kri, Julia Chakma, Rahul Meena and Kripa Jyoti Thengal whose inclusion, TSF alleges, requires thorough scrutiny under the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Act, 2022 and the official list of Scheduled Tribes recognized in Tripura.
Addressing the media, TSF Vice-President John Debbarma said the organization found names in the ST merit list belonging to communities that are recognized as Scheduled Tribes in other states but not in Tripura. He stressed that reservation under the ST quota in Tripura is applicable only to communities notified for the state and urged authorities to verify the candidates’ PRTC and ST certificates before seat allotment.
Debbarma also pointed to the case of a candidate, Julia Chakma, whose name allegedly appeared in the provisional NEET merit lists of both Mizoram and Tripura. He said the matter raises questions that require detailed verification by the competent authorities.
The TSF has urged the Directorate of Medical Education to:
* Re-examine the ST status and certificates of the identified candidates.
* Verify whether the candidates belong to Scheduled Tribes recognized in Tripura under the applicable Presidential Order.
* Remove any ineligible candidates from the ST merit list if found not entitled to reservation in Tripura.
* Ensure that medical seats reserved for ST candidates are allotted only to legally eligible beneficiaries.
According to TSF, officials assured the delegation that all relevant documents, including Permanent Resident of Tripura Certificates (PRTC) and ST certificates, would be thoroughly verified before the counselling and allotment process is completed. The organization said it expects the authorities to ensure that only genuine ST candidates from Tripura receive the benefits of reservation.
The Directorate of Medical Education and the Tribal Welfare Department have not yet issued an official statement on the allegations.
