Madras High Court Reverses Single Judge's Relief To MBBS Aspirant Who Missed Fee Deadline Citing Financial Constraints

The Madras High Court, on Friday, set aside a single judge order, allowing a meritorious candidate to join a medical college, after she failed to pay the fee within the prescribed time due to financial difficulties.

The bench of Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice Mohammed Shaffiq, while setting aside the order of the single judge, noted that the time scheme specified in the prospectus had to be followed by the candidates. The bench also noted that there may be many students who, like the candidate, could not join the allotted college in time. 

Though the court set aside the order of the single judge, it talked to the candidate after pronouncing the order, advising her to take up another course and flourish in life, and not be disheartened that she could not pursue the MBBS course.

Yesterday, the single judge came to the rescue of the candidate who was not permitted to join the allotted Medical College. The single judge had invoked the court's extraordinary jurisdiction and took into account the circumstances that prevented the candidate from paying the fee on time. The court took into account the attendant circumstances and was inclined to permit the candidate to join the course. The court added that instead of the seat going to a less meritorious student, it would be appropriate if it were given to the candidate, ensuring that there was no compromise on merit.

Background

The student had appeared for the NEET UG 2025 26 exam and obtained a score of 251. She was allotted a seat in Madha Medical College and Research Institute in the third allotment on November 3, 2025. As per the notification, after the publication of the results, the candidates had to download the allotment order and report to the concerned college by November 8, 2025.

The student submitted that they could arrange the fee of Rs. 15,00,000 only on November 8 but since it was a second Saturday, she was not able to make the payment through NEFT or RTGS mode. It was further submitted that though the candidate and her mother tried to get in touch with the college to inform them, there was no response. Meanwhile, since the candidate had not appeared to join the college on November 8, the seat was considered as not occupied and added towards the vacancy that was to be filled during the stray vacancy. She had thus approached the court seeking direction to the respondents to permit her to join the college.

The Selection committee opposed the plea and submitted that if the candidate fails to jpin the allowed college within the stipulated time, the seat automatically goes unoccupied and could come under stray vacancy. It was argued that the selection committee has to abide by the schedules fixed and no exemption could be granted under any circumstances. 

Case Title: The State of Tamil Nadu v Shilpa Suresh

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 420

Case No: WA.3489/2025