Supreme Court Allows TN NEET UG Students Who Lost MBBS Seats Over Technical Glitch to Pay Fees by December 10

In a major relief to a group of deserving NEET UG 2025 candidates from Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court of India has intervened, granting them a final opportunity to secure their MBBS seats. The Apex Court's bench, comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice A.S. Chandurkar, allowed the candidates to complete the mandatory fee payment by Wednesday, December 10, 2025, restoring their chance for admission which had been forfeited due to technical and procedural payment challenges.

In a major relief to a group of deserving NEET UG 2025 candidates from Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court of India has intervened, granting them a final opportunity to secure their MBBS seats. The Apex Court's bench, comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice A.S. Chandurkar, allowed the candidates to complete the mandatory fee payment by Wednesday, December 10, 2025, restoring their chance for admission which had been forfeited due to technical and procedural payment challenges.

This crucial decision directly addresses the plight of students who, despite securing high ranks and being allotted seats, lost their admission opportunity because they could not complete the admission fee transaction before the original deadline, with one primary reason cited being the last date falling on a bank holiday (Second Saturday).

The Circumstances of the Lost Seats

The petitioners approached the Supreme Court after the State authorities and, in some cases, the Madras High Court, denied them relief, citing the strict adherence required to the prospectus's time schedule. The candidates, who had been allotted seats under the management or minority quota in the third round of counselling, found themselves in a bind when they could only arrange the substantial fee amount on the final day of reporting, which coincided with a bank holiday.

• The Glitch: One of the main technical hurdles highlighted was that the last day for fee submission fell on a Second Saturday (November 8, 2025). This prevented candidates from generating Demand Drafts or completing large online transfers (NEFT/RTGS) through the authorized banking channels, as major banks were closed or operating with limited services.
• The Loss: Since the payment was not completed by the stipulated time, their allotted seats (some carrying a fee of around ₹15 lakhs) were declared vacant and potentially moved to the stray vacancy round.

The Supreme Court initially expressed caution, noting that extending relief merely on financial grounds could set an unsustainable precedent. However, upon acknowledging that the fee payment deadline coincided with a bank holiday—a factor entirely beyond the students' control—the Court decided to grant relief under these specific, unique circumstances.

The Apex Court's Directive

The bench has directed the Tamil Nadu state authorities to accept the fee payment from the identified candidates by the end of today, December 10, 2025. Furthermore, the Court ordered that the students be allotted seats from the available vacant management quota seats, ensuring that they are not deprived of an MBBS opportunity due to administrative or technical limitations.

Important Clarification: The Supreme Court explicitly stated that this order is not to be treated as a precedent for future cases. This distinction underscores that the relief was granted based solely on the unique technical hurdle of the bank holiday.

Implications for Aspiring Medical Students

For future NEET UG and PG aspirants, this ruling serves as a vital reminder of the critical nature of the counselling schedule. While the Supreme Court provided a lifeline in this specific instance, students must:

1. Plan Payment Early: Arrange and prepare the required tuition and admission fees well in advance of the reporting deadline.
2. Verify Bank Operations: Double-check the operational status of authorized banks, especially if the deadline falls near a weekend or public holiday.
3. Utilize Online Channels: Be ready to use all available electronic payment methods, but also have bank-related formalities (like Demand Draft preparation) completed days ahead.

This successful appeal to the Apex Court highlights the judiciary's role in safeguarding the careers of genuine students impacted by procedural deficiencies. For regular updates on admission notifications, fee structures, and judicial interventions that impact admissions, follow Only Education News.