Neet case order Mr.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN WP.Nos.18359, 19359, 19337, 19369 & 19004 of 2025 and WMP.Nos.20561, 21612, 21588, 21620 & 21284 & 2025
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 06.06.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE Mr.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN
WP.Nos.18359, 19359, 19337, 19369 & 19004 of 2025 and
WMP.Nos.20561, 21612, 21588, 21620 & 21284 & 2025
1. S.Sai Priya
2. M.P.Arthika
3. Y.Akthar Farveez
4. Shruthi Chandru 5. Bharath Kumar M.
6. E.Hariharan
7. R.Karthika
8. S.Akshaya
9. M.Dharaneeshwari
10.R.Meenakshi
11.Minor V.Darsini
Represented by her father &
Natural Guardian Venkatesan
12.Minor Naveen Kumar Rajasekar
Represented by his Mother &
Natural Guardian M.Narmatha
13.G.Aarthi
… Petitioners in WP.No.18359/2025
N.Kavini
… Petitioner in WP.No.19359/2025
Minor Hamsavarshini J
Represented by her father &
Natural Guardian Mr.D.Jeyakkannan
… Petitioner in WP.No.19337/2025
Ananth Narayanan K
… Petitioner in WP.No.19369/2025 Vs.
1. Union of India
Represented by its Secretary,
Ministry of Education, Government of India, New Delhi-110 001.
2. National Medical Commission,
Represented by Secretary,
Pocket 4, Sector No.8,
Dhuvaraga pace 1, New Delhi 110 077.
3. National Testing Agency
Through its Director General,
Having Office at C-20 1A/8, Sector 62,
IITK Outreach Centre, NOIDA-201 309.
… Respondents 1 to 3 in all WPs.
4. The Director
Directorate General of Health Services,
Ministry of Health and Family Services,
Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai-600 018.
… 4th Respondent in WP Nos.18359, 19359,
19337 & 19004/2025
4. The Principal,
PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya Minambakkam,
Near Palavanthangal Railway Station,
Minambakkam, Chennai-600 016
… 4th Respondent in WP No.19369/2025
Writ Petitions filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, praying to issue a writ of Mandamus, directing the 2nd respondent & 3rd respondent respectively to consider representation of the petitioner and similarly affected candidates who appeared for NEET (UG)-2025 examination in PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya CRPF, Avadi, Government Girls Higher Secondary
School (Test Centre No.4104103) Pooniamman Koil Street, Kundrathur, Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan Senior Secondary School, No.29 Alagiri sami Salai, K.K.Nagar, Chennai and PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya, Minambakkam respectively on 04.05.2025 within the stipulated time.
For Petitioner
in WP.No.18359, 19337
& 19004/2025 : Mr.T.Saikrishnan
For Petitioner
in WP.No.19359/2025 : Mr.V.Baskaran
For Petitioner
in WP.No.19369/2025 : Mr.V.Ramana Reddy
For Respondents : Mr.M.Sathyan
CGSC for R1
Mr.AR.L.Sundaresan
Additional Solicitor General
for Ms.Sunithakumari for R3
*****
C O M M O N O R D E R
In all the 5 writ petitions, the prayer sought for is to direct the 3rd respondent to consider the representation of the petitioners and to conduct reexamination for the petitioners as well as to the similarly affected persons. The common grounds urged in all the above five writ petitions are that there was a power outage during NEET (UG) 2025 examination in the following centers viz., (i).PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya CRPF, Avadi, (ii).Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Ponniamman Koil Street, Kundrathur, (iii).Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan Senior Secondary School, K.K.Nagar and (iv). PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya, Minambakkam.
2. Heard Mr.T.Saikrishnan, Mr.V.Baskaran and Mr.V.Ramana Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioners and Mr.M.Sathyan, learned Central Government Standing Counsel for the first respondent, Ms.Subaranjani
Ananth, Standing Counsel for NMC for the 2nd respondent and
Mr.AR.L.Sundaresan, learned Additional Solicitor General for Ms.Sunitha Kumari appearing for the 3rd respondent.
3. According to the learned counsel for the petitioners, in PM.Shri
Kendriya Vidyalaya CRPF, Avadi, there was a power outage between 3.00
PM to 4.15 PM. In Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan Senior Secondary School, K.K.Nagar, there was a power outage for about 20 minutes around 3.00 PM.
In the Government Higher Secondary School, Ponniyamman Koil Street,
Kundrathur, the power outage was between 3.40 PM to 4.10 PM. In PM.Shri
Kendriya Vidyalaya, Minambakkam, there was a power outage between 3.00 PM to 3.45 PM. It is the specific submission of the petitioners that because of the same, the petitioners’ ability was severely hampered. It is their further submission that inspite of the power outage, the examination Centers did not provide any compensatory time and have not arranged for any power backup. It is their further contention that in the absence of CCTV footage, the reply of the respondent is self serving. Hence, prayed to allow these batch of writ
petitions.
4. Per contra, the learned Additional Solicitor General would contend that, though there was brief power outage, there was no impact upon the performance of the candidates, as the exam was conducted during day time and he would further submit that the situation was scientifically analysed and found that no re-examination is necessary. He also would further contend that more than two million candidates were participated in this exam across India, and if any re-examination is ordered, the same would seriously affect the level playing field. Hence, prayed to dismiss the writ petitions.
5. I have given my anxious consideration to either side submissions.
6. Before we delve into the merits of the matter, it is relevant to refer that, on 16.05.2025, the learned Additional Solicitor General represented before the Court that they would conduct a factual enquiry to find out whether there was any electricity outage as alleged, and it’s possible impact upon the performance of the candidates.
7. In pursuance of the above undertaking, they have conducted a field verification with the Centre Superintendent, City Coordinator, NTA-appointed Observers and Invigilators on duty in the examination halls. According to their report, though there was brief power outage, the same has not affected the performance of candidates, as the examination halls were reported to be sufficiently illuminated with the natural daylight. The report further says that, the School Authorities have also arranged for power backup facility.
8. Reverting back to the merits of the matter, such contention was seriously objected by the learned counsel for the petitioners by contending that in the absence of CCTV footage, the above report is self serving. If we look at the contention of the petitioners, the main ground urged by them is that on account of power outage, there was poor light in the Centres, which caused a distracting environment, and hampered the candidates’ ability to concentrate and to perform at their best.
9. It is pertinent to mention here that the power outage happened due tosudden rain and storm. As rightly contended by the learned Additional Solicitor General, the examination was conducted during day time between 2.00 PM to 5.00 PM, where there is a natural ambient light. At this juncture, it is appropriate to extract the relevant portion of the reply dated 01.06.2025 issued by the respondents for ready reference.
“3. Examination of Petitioner’s Contentions by NTA
In compliance with the Hon’ble Court’s directions, the National Testing Agency undertook a comprehensive enquiry into the matter.
This consisted of the following components:
a). Field Verification of Examination Centre.
NTA checked the contention of the candidate and obtained written factual reports from all key functionaries deployed at the said centre, including:
i. Centre Superintendent ii. City Coordinator iii. NTA-appointed Observers iv. Invigilators on duty in the examination halls
The facts emerging from these reports are summarized as follows:
i. A brief power outage occurred in the region due to a sudden natural storm and rainfall, across parts of Tiruvallur district on the said date.
ii. Despite this, the examination rooms were reported to be sufficiently illuminated with ambient daylight, for the exam purpose the exam was held during peak afternoon hours in early May between 02:00 pm to 05:00 pm. Also, the school had arranged for power backup facility which were utilised and brought into use by the exam functionaries. iii. No disruption of examination was reported. Candidates remained seated and continued writing without disturbance or pause. iv. No contemporaneous complaints or representations were raised or projected by any of the candidates including the petitioners regarding lighting or adverse exam conditions during the conduct of the exam.
v. Neither the Centre Superintendent nor any of the observers or invigilators recommended compensatory time or reported any procedural irregularity nor reported any representations from any candidates on power outage. vi. The examination was conducted strictly as per NTA protocols.
b) Statistical Analysis by Independent Expert CommitteeTo assess whether the reported outage had any discernible effect on candidate performance, an independent Committee of Statisticians was constituted by NTA. The committee carried out an analysis based on anonymized data related to:
The average number of questions attempted by candidates at the said centre and comparisons with other centres in Tiruvallur district are Statistically comparable across the centres in the district where the examination was conducted smoothly.
The committee’s findings indicate:
i. The average number of questions attempted by candidates at Centre Code 4111103 was statistically consistent with other centres in district.
ii. There was no abnormal variation or decline in the number of attempted questions that would suggest disruption or disadvantage. iii. Candidate performance at the centre was found to be within the normal expected range, based on comparative data vis a vis other centres of the district.
c) Time-bound Nature of the NEET (UG) Examination ProcessThe NEET (UG) examination is a national-level, high-stakes entrance examination administered to over 22 lakh candidates across India in a single session. The entire examination and result processing workflow is time-bound, involving:
i. Collection, consolidation, and secure transport of OMR sheets from all centres across the country. ii.Scanning and digitization of OMR responses under strict security protocols.
iii.Evaluation of answer sheets through automated and verified processes. iv. Publication of provisional answer keys, followed by a structured challenge mechanism to address objections raised by candidates on the OMR, Responses and the Provisional Answer Keys.
v. Finalization of answer keys based on expert scrutiny of challenges received.
vi Processing and declaration of results in coordination with the academic calendar.
This entire chain is meticulously planned to adhere to the admission cycle deadlines set by the National Medical Commission (NMC), which is responsible for counselling and seat allocation. Any undue delay in the examination or result declaration would have a cascading effect on the nationwide admission process, potentially disrupting the academic year for lakhs of students and affecting seat allocations across medical institutions.”
10. When the National Testing Agency, after thorough investigation had arrived at the above conclusion, though such conclusion was disputed by the petitioners, this Court has found no grounds to deviate from the above conclusion, as there is no malice pleaded against the National Testing Agency.
11. Therefore, when the Authority themself, after field verification and with the scientific method, had arrived at a reasonable conclusion that there are no grounds for re-examination, the same needs to be accepted, unless the said report is tainted with mala fides. In the instant cases, I do not find any mala fides on the part of the respondents. Furthermore, all over India, there were about 22 lakhs students have participated in the NEET (UG) 2025 examination. In such view of the matter, if any re-examination is permitted on trivial grounds, the same would seriously affect the level playing field of more than two million candidates. Hence, this Court does not find any merit in these writ petitions.
12. In the result, all these Writ Petitions are dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected WMPs are also closed.
06.06.2025
(2/2)
kmi
Index : Yes /No
Speaking order : Yes/No
Neutral Citation : Yes/No
To
1. The Secretary,
Union of India
Ministry of Education, Government of India, New Delhi-110 001.
2. National Medical Commission,
Represented by Secretary,
Pocket 4, Sector No.8,
Dhuvaraga pace 1, New Delhi 110 077.
3. National Testing Agency
Through its Director General,
Having Office at C-20 1A/8, Sector 62, IITK Outreach Centre, NOIDA-201 309.
4. The Director
Directorate General of Health Services,
Ministry of Health and Family Services,
Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai-600 018.
C.KUMARAPPAN, J.
kmi
WP.Nos.18359, 19359, 19337, 19369 & 19004 of 2025
