NEET 2026: HC grants relief to MBBS aspirant, allows uploading of category certificate after application error

Chennai: Granting relief to a NEET UG 2026 candidate who had inadvertently selected 'No' instead of 'Yes' while applying for the Christian Religious Minority Category for MBBS admission, the Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Medical Education (DME) to allow her to upload her minority certificate and participate in the MBBS 2026-27 selection process.

Passing the order on August 11, Justice L. Victoria Gowri said,

"The perusal of the materials placed before me would make it clear that the petitioner before this Court is seeking admission for Medical Course only under the religious and linguistic minority, to try her luck only under the management quota. I do not find that any student in the merit list would be adversely affected if the petitioner is permitted to upload her Christian Religious Minority Certificate."

As per the plea, the petitioner had applied for MBBS/BDS admission under the Management Quota based on her NEET UG 2026 rank. Her religion was already recorded as Christian in her management quota application.

While filling up her online application for Management Quota seats in column 12(c) of the application namely "Apply under Religious Minority Category?", the answer has inadvertently typed as "No" instead of "Yes".

"The same was not wanton but a bona fide mistake. Had the petitioner had promptly clicked yes, she would be considered under the Christian Minority Category," the counsel for the petitioner stated.

The petitioner said the error was purely inadvertent and unintentional. After noticing the mistake, she submitted a representation to the DME on August 7, 2026, requesting that the portal be reopened to allow her to upload her Christian Religious Minority Certificate and participate in the MBBS/BDS 2026-27 selection process under the Religious Minority Category. However, her representation was not considered, prompting her to approach the High Court.

The Additional Government Pleader opposed the petition, arguing that the application process had already closed and the petitioner could not be permitted to make changes at this stage. The last date for applications was initially June 26, 2026, and was later extended to July 27, 2026, to accommodate students. The petitioner, however, submitted her request to upload the Christian Religious Minority Certificate only on August 7, 10 days after the extended deadline had passed. The authorities therefore argued that her request could not be permitted.

They further submitted that counselling was scheduled for August 13 and permitting the petitioner to alter her application at that stage would disrupt the process.

The respondents also relied on the admission prospectus, which required candidates claiming religious or linguistic minority status to upload the relevant documents along with the application and stated that subsequent claims would be rejected.

After noting the arguments, the court said that the petitioner was seeking admission for medical course only under the religious and linguistic minority category in the management quota and found no material to indicate that permitting her to upload the certificate would adversely affect any other candidate in the merit list.

"Therefore, the respondents are directed to permit the petitioner to upload her Christian Religious Minority Certificate and to permit the petitioner to take part in the MBBS 2026-2027 selection process under the Religious Minority Category," the bench said in conclusion.

To view the court order, click on the link below:

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