Premalatha C.R.B vs The Medical Counseling Committee (MCC)

Court
Madras High Court

WP(MD) No. 31582 of 2026
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED: 05-11-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI
WP(MD) No. 31582 of 2026
& WMP(MD) No. 24269 of 2026
CNR:{HCMD011587822026}
Premalatha C.R.B.
..Petitioner(s)
Vs
1. The Medical Counseling Committee (MCC)
Directorate General Of Health Services (DGHS),
Ministry of Health And Family Welfare,
New Delhi
2. The Additional Chief Secretary to Government of
Tamil Nadu
Health and Family Welfare Department,
Secretariat, Chennai
3. The Director
Directorate of Medical Education and Research
College Road,
Chennai - 600 006
4. The Secretary
The Selection Committee,
Directorate Of Medical Education And Research,
No. 162,
Periyar EVR High Road,
Kilpauk,
Chennai 600 010
..Respondent(s)
PRAYER: Writ Petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of
India, praying this court to issue a WRIT OF MANDAMUS directing the
respondents to permit the petitioner to participate in the Special Stray
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WP(MD) No. 31582 of 2026
Vacancy Round of MCC NEET UG 2026-2027 counselling by relieving
her from the Round III allotment, notwithstanding her earlier allotment of
an MBBS seat, and consequently enable her to register and participate in
the said counselling, subject to fulfilment of the applicable eligibility
criteria and other admission requirements, and pass such further or other
orders as this Honble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and
circumstances of the case and thus render justice.
For Petitioner(s) :Mr.P.Ganapathi Subramanian
For Respondent(s) :Mr.Karthikeya Venkatachalapathy
Senior Central Government Standing
Counsel
Mr.B.Saravanan (R2 to R4)
Assisted by
Mr.C.Deepak
Addl. Govt. Pleader
ORDER
Seeking to direct the respondents to permit the petitioner to
participate in the Special Stray Vacancy Round of MCC NEET UG 2026-
2027 counselling by relieving her from the Round III allotment,
notwithstanding her earlier allotment of a MBBS seat and consequently
enable her to register and participate in the said counselling, subject to
fulfilment of the applicable eligibility criteria and other admission
requirements, this writ petition has been filed.
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WP(MD) No. 31582 of 2026
2. When the matter was came up for admission on 04.11.2026, this
Court had passed the following order :
“2. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that
the petitioner appeared for the National Eligibility cum Entrance
Test (NEET UG 2026) under Application No.260412198362 and
Roll No.4106107596 and she has secured 284 marks and
obtained All India Rank No. 660105. She participated in the
counselling process with the bonafide intention of securing
admission in MBBS course. Pursuant to the choices exercised by
the petitioner and the results of the Round III counselling
st
conducted by the 1 respondent, she was allotted an MBBS seat
at SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, SRM
Nagar, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu,
under the MCC NEET UG 2026-2027 counselling. The petitioner
was genuinely interested in joining the said institution and
pursuing the MBBS course.
3. It was further submitted that the reporting period for
Round III counselling was scheduled from 01.10.2026 to
09.10.2026. The candidates who were allotted seats were
required to report in person to their respective institutions,
produce the prescribed original documents for verification and
complete the admission formalities including payment of
prescribed tuition and registration fee within the stipulated
period. In compliance with the admission instructions, the
petitioner, with the bonafide intention of completing the
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WP(MD) No. 31582 of 2026
admission process, initiated the transfer of prescribed admission
fee through the National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT)
facility to the designated bank of the third respondent Institution
and also successfully paid a sum of Rs.3,00,000/- on 09.10.2026
at 03.43 p.m. However, owing to an unforeseen delay in the
banking transaction and payment processing system, the balance
amount could not be credited to the bank account of the
Institution within the expected time, consequent to which, the
payment was not confirmed within the stipulated period and the
petitioner was unable to complete the reporting and admission
formalities before the prescribed deadline. Thereafter, the
institution had returned the amount of Rs.3 lakhs, which was
paid by the petitioner.
4. The learned counsel for the petitioner further submitted
that the delay in crediting the amount was neither deliberate nor
attributable to any willful negligence or intention on the
petitioner's part, and she personally attended the institution on
09.10.2026 for verification of her original certificates, thereby
demonstrating her genuine intention to secure admission and
join the MBBS course. Immediately upon encountering the said
difficulty, the petitioner took genuine steps to bring the matter to
the notice of the computer authorities and had also sent e-mail
representation on 10-10-2026. In response to the e-mail
representation dated 10-10-2026, the first respondent advised
the petitioner to contact the allotted college and to keep track of
the official MCC website for further updates. Accordingly, on
11-10-2026, the petitioner again sent an e-mail representation
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WP(MD) No. 31582 of 2026
explaining the circumstances, which caused the delayed credit of
payment, reiterating her genuine and bonafide intention.
5. It is the petitioner’s contention that since the petitioner
was allotted a seat in the third round of counselling, she will not
be permitted to participate in the registration process for Special
Stray Vacancy Round of MCC NEET UG 2026-2027 counselling.
The part payment which was earlier made by the petitioner has
also been refunded, and therefore, she is in a difficult situation,
where she lost her seat, which was allotted in the third round of
counselling and if she is not permitted to participate in the
Special Stray Vacancy Round of MCC NEET UG 2026-2027
counselling, despite having secured well, more than the cut-off
mark for Special Stray Vacancy Round of MCC NEET UG 2026-
2027 counselling, which is fixed as 177, the petitioner would be
placed in a pathetic situation, where she cannot participate in
the stray round as well and hence, she sought the indulgence of
this Court.
6. The learned counsel for the first respondent sought for
time to get instructions from the authorities.
7. However, considering the fact that the registration of
the Special Stray Vacancy Round of MCC NEET UG 2026-2027
counselling would be closed today, 04.11.2026 at 03.00 p.m.,
and considering the fact that the process of registering for a
NEET counselling by the students is very complicated and not
easy in managing the same, more particularly by the students,
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WP(MD) No. 31582 of 2026
the difficulty suffered by the students, like the petitioner, shall be
considered by the respondent authorities with concern and
patience.
8. In view of the above, taking this as a special case, the
first respondent is directed to permit the petitioner to register her
name to participate in Special Stray Vacancy Round of MCC
NEET UG 2026-2027 counselling by keeping in mind that she
had taken genuine steps by making a part payment of
Rs.3,00,000/- at the first instance, which was accepted by the
College and the remaining amount could not be paid only
because of the online transaction disruption in NEFT facility.”
3. When the matter is taken up for hearing today, the learned
counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner herein has been
facilitated to participate in the stray round counselling.
4. I place appreciation on the efforts taken by Mr.Karthikeya
Venkitachalapathy, learned Senior Central Government Standing Counsel
st
appearing for the 1 respondent who had taken hectic steps to inform and
initiate proper action on the order of this Court, facilitating the petitioner
to get her name registered to participate the stray round counselling.
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WP(MD) No. 31582 of 2026
5. Recording the above, this Writ Petition stands disposed of,
directing the respondents to facilitate proper participation of the petitioner
herein the stray round counselling. It is made clear that the respondents
shall facilitate the allotment process as required by the petitioner further.
No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition stands closed.

6. Post on 162.11.2026 for reporting compliance.
05-11-2026
gbg
Note: Issue order copy on 05.11.2026.
To
1. The Medical Counseling Committee (MCC)
Directorate General Of Health Services (DGHS)
Ministry of Health And Family Welfare
New Delhi
2. The Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu
Health and Family Welfare Department
Secretariat
Chennai
3. The Director
Directorate of Medical Education and Research College Road
Chennai - 600 006
4. The Secretary
The Selection Committee
Directorate Of Medical Education And Research
No. 152
Periyar EVR High Road
Kilpauk
Chennai 600 010
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WP(MD) No. 31582 of 2026
L.VICTORIA GOWRI, J.
gbg
WP(MD) No. 31582 of 2026
05-11-2026
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