NEET SS candidates move Delhi HC over delay in security deposit refunds by MCC

New Delhi: The issue of delayed refund of NEET Super Speciality (NEET SS) counselling security deposits has now reached the Delhi High Court, with doctors alleging that large amounts of refundable money remain stuck with the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) months after the counselling process ended.

Several doctors have alleged that the issue occurs every year despite required document submissions and multiple representations. While some candidates used their savings, others said they had to take loans to pay the deposit, and the delay is now causing financial stress.

Confirming the development, Dr Meet Ghonia, General Secretary, Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA), told Medical Dialogues that candidates have moved the high court seeking directions for immediate refunds and transparency in the counselling process.

Speaking on the issue, Dr Dhruv Chauhan, National Spokesperson, IMA-JDN, said that the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has not yet refunded the security deposit to many NEET SS candidates. He pointed out that even after submitting all required documents and making multiple appeals, several candidates are still waiting for their money. He further termed the situation a recurring problem, stating that such delays are seen almost every year during the counselling process.

Echoing similar concerns, Dr Rohan Krishnan, Health Activist and Chief Patron, Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), said that while some candidates have received their refunds, many others are still pending.

Under MCC rules, candidates are required to deposit Rs 2 lakh as a refundable security amount (around Rs 2.5 lakh, including a non-refundable component) during counselling. This is meant to prevent seat blocking and is supposed to be returned after the process concludes, provided candidates follow the guidelines.

However, doctors across the country claim that refunds from the last two counselling cycles have been significantly delayed, causing financial stress and uncertainty.

The matter has now escalated legally. One of the petitioners, Shashwat Lohia, who approached the court along with 346 others, said he had to take a loan at 14% interest to arrange the Rs 2 lakh deposit.

"We had submitted Rs 2 lakh in 2024 after taking a loan because my personal savings were not that high, and I had family commitments. It was an overdraft at 14 per cent interest. This has been going on for 8-10 months, even though we were supposed to get the money back in 3 months," he told The Federal.

He added that the lack of communication has been as distressing as the delay itself. "The worst part is that there is no accountability and no clear picture of what was happening. There is no timeline, no explanation, and no communication; we are completely in the dark," he said.

Candidates also claimed that they have tried all possible ways to get updates, including emails, phone calls, RTIs, and social media outreach, but received little to no response.

Although refunds have now reportedly started, the pace remains slow. The petitioner alleged that only a handful of candidates are receiving their money back each day, raising concerns that the process may take a long time to complete.

A candidate from Kerala, who participated in both 2024 and 2025 counselling, said he is yet to receive refunds from either cycle, despite being eligible in both cases. In his case, nearly Rs 4 lakh remains blocked.

"In NEET-SS 2024, I participated in counselling but didn’t get a seat, so ideally, the Rs 2 lakhs should have been refunded. In 2025, I again participated, and this time I got a seat in CMC Vellore, which I took. So, as per the rules, both amounts should have been returned to me. But I have not received anything till now, even though I am eligible for a refund in both cases," he said.

He said, "The money came from family savings accumulated over the years. This money came from my parents’ savings. Even then, Rs 4 lakh is a significant amount. Keeping it blocked for so long affects financial planning. Despite repeated attempts to follow up, he said responses have been largely automated. I have written nearly 100 emails… but every time, I only get an auto-generated reply saying they are waiting for instructions from higher authorities."

Another doctor from Andhra Pradesh shared that she had to borrow money to pay the deposit and later arrange another Rs 2 lakh for the next counselling round, as the previous refund had not come through.

"My stipend was only around Rs 25,000-30,000, and I also had a car EMI, so saving Rs 2 lakh was not possible. I had to borrow the money from my brother, thinking I would return it in one or two months. After not receiving a refund from the 2024 cycle, I was forced to arrange another Rs 2 lakh to participate again. Even before I got the previous Rs 2 lakhs back, the next counselling started… so in total, Rs 4 lakh got blocked."

The issue has now reached the court, with petitioners arguing that the continued withholding of refundable deposit amounts to an arbitrary action and financial hardship. They have sought directions for immediate refunds, a time-bound mechanism, and greater transparency in the counselling process. The matter is expected to be heard on May 4.

As of now, the MCC has not issued any detailed clarification on the delay or provided a clear timeline for completing all pending refunds.

Also read- NEET SS 2025 refunds: MCC credits security deposits, seeks fresh details after technical failures