Court Rules Candidate Cannot Switch from General to OBC-NCL Category After Counseling Commencement Despite New Certificate; Emphasizes Strict Adherence to Counseling Timelines and Rules
In a significant judgment dated October 6, 2026, the Madras High Court, presided over by Justice K. Surender, has dismissed a writ petition seeking to permit a candidate, Keerthi V, to change her category from General to Other Backward Class - Non Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) for participation in the NEET-UG 2026 counseling under the 15% All India Quota.
The petitioner had appeared for NEET-UG 2026 as a General Category candidate and only obtained the OBC-NCL community certificate after the declaration of results and the commencement of counseling. She applied for the OBC-NCL certificate in August 2026 and received it on September 12, 2026, well after the counseling process had begun in early August.
Petitioner's Counsel argued that since there were vacant seats in the OBC-NCL category, allowing her participation at the bottom of the OBC-NCL merit list would not prejudice any other candidate. They further cited precedents where candidates were accommodated in reserved categories post-result declaration under specific circumstances.
However, the Court firmly rejected these submissions, relying on the counseling rules and the NEET-UG 2026 Information Bulletin, which explicitly state that no changes in particulars, including category, would be entertained after the stipulated correction window. The National Testing Agency (NTA) had provided a correction window from March 12 to March 14, 2026, before the results were declared on July 16, 2026, which the petitioner did not utilize.
The Court emphasized that permitting changes after counseling has commenced would undermine the orderly conduct and uniform application of selection rules. It distinguished the present case from judgments involving correction of defective certificates already asserted before results and counseling, noting that this was a fresh claim to a reserved category post-results.
Relying on authoritative precedents, including recent Supreme Court and Madras High Court decisions, the Court observed that such belated requests must be declined to maintain the integrity of the admission process.
Ultimately, the Court dismissed the petition, holding that the petitioner had no right to alter the category after the declaration of results and commencement of counseling. It underscored that the counseling authorities cannot be directed by individual judicial orders to accept category changes absent a basis in the governing rules.
This ruling reinforces the strict enforcement of NEET-UG counseling guidelines and the importance of adhering to deadlines for category claims, thereby ensuring fairness and predictability in medical admissions.
Bottom Line:
NEET-UG 2026 counselling - Candidate who applied and appeared as General Category cannot seek change to OBC-NCL after declaration of results and commencement of counselling on the basis of a subsequently obtained community certificate - MCC cannot be directed to alter category contrary to counselling rules and correction-window provisions.
Statutory provision(s):
NEET-UG 2026 Information Bulletin clauses 8 and 9 (Medical Counselling Committee guidelines), National Testing Agency correction window notification, and judicial precedents from Supreme Court and Madras High Court on category change post-result declaration.
Keerthi V v. Secretary, Medical Counselling Committee, (Madras) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2992564
