Madras High Court News – The Madras High Court has dismissed petitions seeking a re-examination of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2025, paving the way for the National Testing Agency (NTA) to release the results as scheduled on June 14, 2025. The decision, delivered by Justice C. Kumarappan, addressed concerns raised by 16 candidates who claimed that power outages at four exam centers in Chennai disrupted their performance during the test held on May 4, 2025.
» The petitioners, including students like S. Sai Priya, Hariharan, and Akshaya, argued that a sudden storm and heavy rains caused power cuts at exam centers, including PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya CRPF in Avadi, Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Kundrathur, Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan Senior Secondary School in K.K. Nagar, and PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya in Minambakkam.
» They contended that the outages, combined with rainwater entering exam halls, created an uncomfortable and distracting environment, adversely affecting their performance in the high-stakes medical entrance exam.
» The candidates sought a re-examination, alleging that the disruptions warranted a fresh test to ensure fairness.
On May 16, 2025, Justice V. Lakshminarayanan had issued an interim stay on the release of NEET-UG 2025 results, directing the NTA to respond to the students’ grievances by June 2.
The petitioners highlighted that no compensatory time was provided for the disruptions, despite their requests to the NTA, which prompted them to approach the court. However, during subsequent hearings, the NTA countered these claims, asserting that an inquiry revealed no significant disruptions to the exam process.
Additional Solicitor-General A.R.L. Sundaresan informed the court that the exam adhered to strict protocols, and an independent committee of statisticians analyzed the performance of students at the affected centers, finding no evidence of adverse impact. The agency also noted that neither center superintendents nor invigilators reported procedural irregularities or recommended extra time.
Justice Kumarappan, in his ruling on June 6, 2025, emphasized that ordering a re-examination on “trivial grounds” would disrupt the level playing field for the over 22 lakh candidates who appeared for NEET-UG 2025 across India. “In the instant case, I do not find any mala fides on the part of the respondents,” the judge stated, referring to the NTA’s report. He further noted that granting a re-exam would unfairly affect the vast majority of candidates who completed the exam without issue.
The court dismissed the petitions, lifting the interim stay and allowing the NTA to proceed with the result declaration.
The decision has sparked mixed reactions. Some candidates expressed disappointment, arguing that the power outages created unequal conditions. Others welcomed the ruling, citing the need for timely results to proceed with medical admissions. The NEET-UG 2025 results, expected to be released on June 14, will determine admissions to over one lakh medical seats across the country. The provisional answer key was released on June 3, and a committee of subject experts is reviewing challenges before finalizing the answer key in PDF format on the NTA’s official website, neet.nta.nic.in.
This ruling comes amid broader discussions on the fairness of competitive exams. In a related development, the Supreme Court recently mandated that the NEET-PG 2025 exam, scheduled for August 3, be conducted in a single shift to ensure uniformity and transparency, addressing concerns about potential discrepancies in a two-shift format.
The Madras High Court’s decision underscores the judiciary’s cautious approach to ordering re-examinations, prioritizing the interests of the majority while acknowledging the need for robust exam protocols.
As the NTA prepares to release the NEET-UG 2025 results, candidates are advised to check the official website for updates. The court’s verdict ensures that the academic timeline for medical aspirants remains on track, despite the challenges faced by a small group of candidates in Chennai.
