Madras High Court: While hearing a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution, wherein the petitioner sought permission to join the allotted Madha Medical College, Chennai under the minority quota, despite missing the fee payment deadline owing to a bank holiday, a Single Judge Bench of N. Anand Venkatesh, J., held that the petitioner did not intentionally defaulted but was prevented by circumstances beyond her control. The Court observed that denying admission would result in the seat being filled by less meritorious candidates and, therefore, exercised its extraordinary jurisdiction to direct the respondents to permit the petitioner to join the college upon payment of the prescribed fee.
Background:
The case arose from the petitioner’s participation in NEET UG 2025-2026, where she secured a score of 251. The Selection Committee issued the prospectus on 06-06-2025, and the petitioner applied under the minority quota for both Government and Management counselling. In Round—III counselling held between 30-10-2025 and 01-11-2025, she was allotted a seat in the Medical College under the minority quota, with the provisional allotment list published on 03-11-2025.
As per notification dated 25-10-2025, candidates had to download the allotment order and report to the allotted college by 08-11-2025. The petitioner was required to pay Rs 15,00,000 as fees. Her mother arranged the amount by pledging gold, but the funds were available only on 08-11-2025, which was a bank holiday. Consequently, the petitioner could not make payment through demand draft, NEFT, or RTGS.
The petitioner and her mother attempted to contact the college to inform them that payment would be made on the next working day, 10-11-2025, but received no response. Since she did not join by 08-11-2025, her seat was treated as vacant and added to the stray vacancy pool. Aggrieved, she approached the Court seeking relief.
The Selection Committee argued that the schedule was strict, with the last date for joining fixed as 08-11-2025, and any relaxation would set a bad precedent affecting other candidates. They opposed the petition, stating the seat had already been added to stray vacancy counselling. The Medical College, however, submitted they had no objection to admitting the petitioner, noting her higher merit compared to candidates filling stray vacancies.
Analysis and Decision:
The Court emphasised that Round-III counselling concluded on 03-11-2025 and the petitioner, allotted under the minority quota, secured 251 marks in NEET. The Court noted the petitioner’s family background, with her mother educated only up to 10th standard and her father working abroad as a painter and observed that the petitioner was aspiring to become a doctor and had put all efforts into joining the MBBS course.
The Court highlighted that the only obstacle was the payment of Rs 15,00,000 towards fees. It was observed that the petitioner’s mother arranged the amount by pledging jewels, but the funds were available only on 08-11-2025, which unfortunately was a second Saturday, a bank holiday. The Court further noted that the petitioner could not remit the fees through NEFT or RTGS and the earliest possible date was 10-11-2025.
The Court observed that if the seat were treated as unoccupied and added to stray vacancy, it would go to less meritorious candidates. It was further emphasised that the petitioner did not intentionally default but was prevented by circumstances beyond her control. The Court highlighted that the payment gateway in the portal only showed the options of nearly eight banks, and the petitioner’s mother had a bank account in TMB Bank.
The Court, considering the marks scored and the attendant circumstances, held that extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution must be exercised to render substantial justice. The Court emphasised that merit would not be compromised and clarified that this order cannot be treated as precedent in all cases, as it was based on the peculiar facts presented.
Consequently, the Court directed the respondents to permit the petitioner to join the Medical College as per Round—III allotment by accepting the fee of Rs 15,00,000, payable by 14-11-2025. The Court further made it clear that failure to comply would result in forfeiture of the petitioner’s right to claim the seat.
The Court, thus, allowed the petition with no costs, and closed the connected miscellaneous petitions.
[Shilpa Suresh. S v. State of T.N., 2025 SCC OnLine Mad 9968, decided on 13-11-2025]
Advocates who appeared in this case :
For the Petitioner: Abisha Isaac Assisted by H. Mary Sowmi Rexi, Isaac Chambers
For the Respondents: K. Tippu Sultan, Government Advocate, M. Sneha Special Counsel, Richardson Wilson, Standing Counsel
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