After Rs 3 Lakh Part-Payment And NEFT Delay, Madras HC Lets NEET Candidate Participate In Special Stray Round

The petitioner was allotted an MBBS seat at SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre in Round III of MCC NEET UG 2026–2027 counselling.

On the final reporting date, she attended the college and paid ₹3,00,000, but an alleged delay in the NEFT transaction prevented the balance payment from being credited within the deadline; the college later refunded the amount.

She made representations to MCC and sought permission to participate in the Special Stray Vacancy Round, despite her prior Round III allotment.

On 4 November 2026, because registration was due to close that day, the Court directed MCC to permit her to register. At the final hearing, counsel reported that she had been enabled to participate.

The petition invoked the High Court’s jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a writ of mandamus.

The order cites no statute, regulation, or precedent as the basis for its decision.

The Court instead granted case-specific relief, directing MCC to allow registration in light of the petitioner’s part payment and the asserted transaction disruption.

The Court considered the petitioner’s payment of ₹3,00,000, her attendance at the college for certificate verification, and her subsequent representations as evidence of a genuine attempt to complete admission formalities.

Given that registration for the Special Stray Vacancy Round was closing imminently, the Court treated the circumstances as a special case and directed MCC to permit registration.

At the final hearing, the Court recorded that the petitioner had been enabled to participate and directed the respondents to facilitate her further participation and allotment process.

It imposed no costs and closed the connected miscellaneous petition.