College Directed to Allow Student to Attend Classes After Fee Payment Verified
New Delhi: In a significant interim relief, the Supreme Court has directed the ICARE Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Haldia, to admit a NEET PG 2024 candidate who was earlier denied admission due to a delay in physically reporting to the college, despite paying the full fees within the stipulated deadline.
A bench of Justices KV Viswanathan and N Kotswar Singh took note of the fact that the petitioner, who secured rank 112394 in NEET PG 2024 and was allotted a seat for MS (General Surgery) under the Private Management Quota during the Special Stray Vacancy Round in West Bengal, had paid the complete fee of ₹27 lakh online on 20.03.2025—the last date of admission. However, the college denied him admission, citing his physical reporting on 27.03.2025 as late.
Challenging this, the candidate first approached the Calcutta High Court, which dismissed his plea, relying on the reporting deadline. Aggrieved, the petitioner moved the Supreme Court, arguing that although fees were paid in time, the delay was caused by further demands from the college. Interestingly, the college’s counsel did not dispute the validity of the counselling or fee payment but maintained procedural grounds.
Taking these submissions and proof of fee payment into account, the Supreme Court observed that the candidate should be treated as duly admitted. The bench ordered the college to permit him to attend classes from 27.06.2025 onward, and listed the matter for further hearing on 18.08.2025.
