Syed Mohammed Haris v. The Secretary
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 16.07.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN Syed Mohammed Haris ... Petitioner Vs.
1.
The Secretary, Union of India, Ministry of Education, New Delhi - 110 001.
2.
The Secretary, Union of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi - 110 001.
The Senior Director, NEET (UG), National Testing Agency, C-20 1A/8, Sector 62, IITK Outreach Centre, NOIDA - 201 309.
The Chairman, National Medical Commission, Pocked-14, Sector - 8, Dwaraka Phase - 1, New Delhi - 110 077.
The Medical Counseling Committee, (MCC) Rep. by is Chairman DGHS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,
Government of India, Room No.348, A wing, Nirmanbhavan, New Delhi - 110 011.
Selection Committee, Rep. by its Chairman, Directorate of Medical Education, 163, Periyar E.V.R.High Road, Kilpauk, Chennai - 600 010.
7.
The Director of Medical Education, Director General of Health Services, No.156, Poonamallee High Road, New Boopathy Nagar, Chetpet, Chennai - 600 031.
8.
National Board of Examinations, H698+9FC, Medical Enclave, Ansari Nagar, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Ring Road, New Delhi - 110 029.
... Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, seeking for an issuance of writ of mandamus, to direct the respondents to pass appropriate orders for the rectification of the category from General to OBC in the NEET (UG) 2025 Score Card of the petitioner with application no.UG250411382596 and Roll No.4101104229.
For Petitioner : M/s.A.Syed Kaleesha For Respondents : Mr.R.Rajesh Vivekananthan Deputy Solicitor General for R1,R2 & R5 : Ms.Sunitha Kumari for R3 : Mr.A.Kumaraguru for R4 : Mr.J.Harikrishnan for R8 : Mr.K.Tippu Sultan Government Advocate for R7 : Ms.Sneha for R6
ORDER
By consent, the writ petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.
2.
The writ petition is filed praying for a mandamus to direct the respondents to pass appropriate orders for rectification of the category from General to OBC, in the NEET (UG) 2025, in the Score Card of the petitioner bearing Application No.UG250411382596 and Roll No.4101104229. Learned Counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner belongs to OBC category. However, while applying for NEET (UG) 2025 exam, inadvertently, he registered as if he belongs to General Category. Therefore, in order to rectify the same, the petitioner has come before this Court seeking for a mandamus.
However, the learned Counsel for the third respondent would invite the attention of this Court about the Division Bench Judgment made in WA(MD)No.739 of 2019 dated 22.07.2019 and also W.P.(MD) No.19051 of 2024 dated 07.08.2024, wherein it was held that when a person themselves
registered as General category, after issuance of result, they cannot turn around and pray for modification of their community. Hence would contend that there is no ground to deviate from the above finding. I am in full agreement with the above submission. As rightly contended by the learned Counsel for the third respondent, this Court has already considered the similar issue in W.P.No.22566 of 2025 and passed final order on 24.06.2025. For ready reference, the relevant paragraphs are extracted hereunder: "2. The petitioner has filed this writ petition seeking issuance of writ of mandamus directing the respondents to change the category of the petitioner under OBC instead of General in the application bearing Registration No.250411777284 dated 02.05.2025, Candidate Roll No.4101203431 and issue the rank by considering the eligibility of the petitioner under OBC Category for the UG medical admission.
The learned Counsel appearing of the petitioner would submit that the petitioner belong to OBC category. While applying for NEET through information centre, inadvertently, his community was mentioned as General Category. In this connection, he has sent representation to the respondents on 17.06.2025. Hence prayed to issue mandamus to consider the petitioner's representation.
At this juncture, the learned Additional Solicitor General of India would submit that in similar set of facts, this Court in W.A.(MD)No.739 of 2019 dated 22.07.2019, has held that when a person themselves registered as General Category, after issuance of result, they cannot turn around and pray for modification of their community and the same was also followed by a learned single Judge in W.P.(MD)No.19051 of 2024 dated 07.08.2024. When order of similar nature was challenged before the Hon'ble Supreme Court, the same was dismissed in SLP No.18211 of 2024 dated 28.06.2024. The learned Assistant Solicitor General of India would further submit that the same view has already been taken by the Hon'ble Division Bench of Telangana High Court in W.P.No.15398 of 2025 vide order dated 09.06.2025.
In the case in hand, admittedly, the petitioner had given community as General and he has come up with representation only after NEET result is published. Therefore, the facts of this case is squarely covered by the judgments referred herein.
In view of the above, this Court do not find any merits in the writ petition. Therefore, the writ petition is dismissed. No costs."
7.
In view of the above, the issue becomes no longer res integra. Hence this Court does not find any merits in the instant writ petition and stands dismissed. No costs.
16.07.2025 veda Index:Yes/No Speaking order/Non-speaking order To 1.
The Secretary, Union of India, Ministry of Education, New Delhi - 110 001.
2.
The Secretary, Union of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi - 110 001.
The Senior Director, NEET (UG), National Testing Agency, C-20 1A/8, Sector 62, IITK Outreach Centre, NOIDA - 201 309.
The Chairman, National Medical Commission, Pocked-14, Sector - 8, Dwaraka Phase - 1, New Delhi - 110 077.
The Medical Counselling Committee, (MCC) Rep. by is Chairman DGHS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Room No.348, A wing, Nirmanbhavan, New Delhi - 110 011.
Selection Committee, Rep. by its Chairman, Directorate of Medical Education, 163, Periyar E.V.R.High Road, Kilpauk, Chennai - 600 010.
7.
The Director of Medical Education, Director General of Health Services, No.156, Poonamallee High Road, New Boopathy Nagar, Chetpet, Chennai - 600 031.
8.
National Board of Examinations, H698+9FC, Medical Enclave, Ansari Nagar, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Ring Road, New Delhi - 110 029.
C.KUMARAPPAN, J.
veda W.P.No.25808 of 2025 16.07.2025