ANALYSIS | NEET PG 2024
Despite paying the full Rs. 27 lakhs admission fee on time, a NEET-PG aspirant was denied entry by the college. The Supreme Court stepped in, emphasizing fairness over technicality and allowed the student to join the course.
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NEW DELHI: On 25th June the Supreme Court granted relief to a NEET-PG aspirant who was denied admission despite timely fee payment of Rs. 27 lakhs. The petitioner had secured a seat through valid counselling but was refused entry for reporting late by seven days.
Observing that the seat remained vacant and the payment was made before the deadline, the Court held that procedural delay should not override substantive compliance. The college was directed to permit the student to attend classes, marking a crucial stand against arbitrariness in medical admission.
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This case is significant for reinforcing the substantive complience, timely fee payment must not be defeated by procedural rigidity in professional admissions.
Background and Facts
The petitioner , Kadam Girish Shriram, appeared for Neet-pg 2024 and secured Rank 112394. He was allotted a seat at ICARE Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Haldia to pursue M.S. (General Surgery) programme under Private Management Quota during the Special Stray Vacancy Round. The Counseling was conducted by the West Bengal Medical Counselling Committee.
In compliance with the counseling rules, the petitioner paid the full admission fee of Rs. 27 lakhs in online mode, before the last day for admission, namely, 20.03.2025. However, due to certain other demand of fees by the college which is disputed by the college, the petitioner physically reported on 27.03.2025.
The college refused to admit him on the ground that he had not reported within the stipulated deadline. When the petitioner approached the Calcutta High Court, his plea was dismissed. The High Court held that the candidates were to report and join the allotted college on 20.03.2025 as that was the last day for admission but the candidates visited the college only on 27.03.2025, therefore could not claim admission.
This led the petitioner to approach the Supreme Court of India under Special Leave Petition (C) No. 14738\2025.
Issues Before the Court
Whether the petitioner, having paid the full admission fee of Rs. 27 lakhs on or before the deadline of 20.03.2025, could be considered a duly admitted candidate despite physically reporting on 27.03.2025.
Whether the refusal by the ICARE Institute of Medical Science and Research, Haldia, to per pemit the petitioner to join, despite a vacant seat and timely fee payment, amount to arbitrary denial of admission.
Whether the High Court was justified in dismissing the petitioner’s writ petition solely on the ground of delayed physical reporting, without considering the petitioner’s compliance with counselling and fee requirement.
Judgment and Observation of the Court
The Supreme Court did not deliver a final judgment but passed a detailed interim order granting relief to the petitioner.
The Court said,
“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”
The petitioner had participated in the NEET-PG 2024 counseling conducted by the West Bengal Medical Councelling Committee and was validly allotted a seat under the Private Management Quota at ICARE Institute, Haldia, in the Special Stray Vacancy Round.
The Court noted that the petitioner had paid the full admission fee of Rs. 27 lakhs online on or before 20.03,2025, which was the last date for admission. This payment was undisputed and verified through receipts.
The bench confirmed that the allotted seat had not been given to anyone else and remained vacant, as admitted by the counsel for the college.
The only reason cited for denial of admission was that the petitioner reported physically on 27.03.2025, i.e., seven days after the official last date for admission. The college claimed that such delay disqualified him from joining.
The Court held that the petitioner had complied with all material conditions before the deadline, and thus he should have been treated as a duly admitted candidate.
Interim Directions
The Court directed Respondent No. 9, ICARE Institute to allow the petitioner to attend classes from 27.06.2025.
The petitioner was directed to submit all required documents by 30.06.2025.
The matter was listed for further hearing on 18.08.2025.
The Court also directed that pleadings be completed in the meantime.
READ JUDGMENT:
KADAM GIRISH SHRIRAM VERSUS THE UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.
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