Supreme Court Relief to NEET PG Candidate Denied Admission Despite Paying Rs 27 Lakh Fee
Supreme Court of India
New Delhi: Granting interim relief to a NEET PG 2024 candidate, who was denied admission due to a delay in reporting to the college despite paying the fees, the Supreme Court recently allowed him to attend the postgraduate medical classes
After taking note of the submissions, the Apex Court bench comprising Justices KV Viswanathan and N Kotswar Singh ordered Haldia-based ICARE Institute of Medical Sciences and Research to admit the petitioner-candidate.
"The petitioner being duly counselled and having paid fees on or before 20.03.2025 should be permitted to attend the college in the seat allotted," observed the top court bench, further directing, "We direct that respondent No.9-College to which the petitioner has been allotted a seat to permit him to attend the classes from tomorrow onwards."
After appearing in the National Eligibility-Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET-PG) 2024 examination, the petitioner candidate secured NEET-PG 2024 rank 112394.
Thereafter, the petitioner appeared in the Online Counselling and the West Bengal Medical Counselling Committee allotted a seat to him at ICARE Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Haldia, to pursue the M.S. (General Surgery) programme during the Special Stray Vacancy Round under Private Management Quota.
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However, he was not admitted to the college due to a delay in reporting to the college. When he approached the Calcutta High Court seeking relief, the HC bench dismissed his plea based on the fact that while the last date of admission was 20.03.2025, he reported to the college late- only on 27.03.2025. Aggrieved by the HC order, the petitioner approached the Supreme Court.
It was submitted by the petitioner that even though he paid full fees of Rs 27 Lakh on 20.03.2025, he was delayed due to certain other demands of fees by the college.
While this was disputed by the college, the counsel for the institute did not dispute that the petitioner was a validly counselled candidate who was duly allotted a seat to the college and a fee of Rs 27 lakh was paid by him online before the last day of admission i.e. on 20.03.2025. The Supreme Court bench also took note of the receipts and online proof available in this regard. The College's counsel also submitted that the concerned seat, which was allotted to the petitioner, was vacant and was not being allotted.
Taking note of these submissions, the Supreme Court bench observed, "...on the facts of the present case, we are, prima facie, convinced that the petitioner, before the last day for admission, paid the fee and was to be treated as a duly admitted candidate before the deadline."
Accordingly, the bench issued an interim order and directed the college to allow the petitioner-candidate to attend classes. The counsel for the petitioner submitted that the candidate being stationed in Calcutta would report to the college on Friday morning i.e. 27.06.2025.
The Apex Court bench has listed the matter for further consideration on 18.08.2025.
To view the order, click on the link below:
