Madras High Court Permits Medical Aspirant to Join MBBS Course Despite Fee Payment Delay

Court Exercises Extraordinary Jurisdiction to Ensure Merit-Based Admission Amid Financial Constraints

In a significant judgment delivered on November 13, 2025, the Madras High Court exercised its extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Indian Constitution to permit petitioner Shilpa Suresh to join the MBBS course at a designated college despite a delay in fee payment. The Court acknowledged the financial challenges faced by the petitioner and deemed it necessary to ensure that merit prevails over procedural constraints.

Presided over by Justice N. Anand Venkatesh, the case revolved around Shilpa Suresh, who had secured a score of 251 in the NEET UG 2025-2026 examination and was allotted a seat at the fourth respondent college under the minority quota in the third round of counselling. Due to financial constraints and a bank holiday, the petitioner was unable to pay the requisite fee of Rs.15,00,000 by the deadline of November 8, 2025. The seat was subsequently marked as a stray vacancy.

The Court meticulously reviewed the circumstances, considering the petitioner's family background and efforts to arrange the fee. Shilpa's mother managed to gather the amount by pledging gold jewelry, but could not make the payment on time due to the second Saturday bank holiday, which impeded the transaction through NEFT or RTGS.

Representatives for the respondents argued against granting relief, citing adherence to the NEET UG schedule and the potential precedent it might set for similar cases. However, the Court underscored the importance of discretionary jurisdiction to deliver substantial justice, emphasizing that merit should not be compromised due to uncontrollable circumstances.

The judgment clearly stated that this decision was specific to the facts at hand and should not be used as a precedent for future cases. The Court directed that the petitioner be allowed to join the college as per the initial allotment and specified that the fee must be paid by November 14, 2025, failing which the petitioner would forfeit her right to the seat.

The ruling highlights the Court's commitment to balancing procedural rigor with equitable justice, ensuring that deserving candidates can pursue their academic aspirations despite financial hurdles.

Bottom Line:

Extraordinary jurisdiction exercised under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to allow the petitioner to join MBBS course despite delay in payment of fees due to unavoidable circumstances.

Statutory provision(s): Article 226 of the Constitution of India

Shilpa Suresh.S v. State of Tamil Nadu, (Madras) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2808373