Safiya Begum Feroz Khan v. The Union Of India Through Its Secretary And Others
2025:BHC-AUG:12883-DB ( 1 )
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD 911 WRIT PETITION NO. 5743 OF 2025 SAFIYA BEGUM FEROZ KHAN
VERSUS
THE UNION OF INDIA THROUGH ITS SECRETARY AND OTHERS .....
Advocate for the Petitioner : Mr. Pathan Hamzakhan I. AGP for Respondents/State : Mr. Amar V. Lavte Advocate for Resp. Nos.1 & 2 : Mr. Amol N. Patale .....
CORAM : MANGESH S. PATIL & Y.G. KHOBRAGADE, JJ.
DATE :
30.04.2025 P.C. :- 1.
Heard the learned advocate for the petitioner and the learned advocate who appears suo moto on private notice for respondent nos.1 & 2. 2.
Though unfortunate, the petitioner seems to be in a precarious condition for her inability to submit her application online for NEET-2025. Though she made such an attempt, she failed to make payment of the examination fees and was unable to download confirmation page without which she cannot have download the admit card.
( 2 ) 3.
The examination is to be conducted on 04.05.2025. She has filed this petition on 28.04.2025 even when her attempt to log-in and submit the examination form, registration etc. on 04.03.2025 was not successful. For whatever reason she did not act promptly in spite of being aware that the payment was not successful and she was not having any confirmation page without which she cannot get the admit card. 4.
Though not exactly in the same circumstances, we have already considered a similar case in the matter of Namrata Sanjay Sarkate V/s. The Union of India & Anr., writ petition No. 4212/2025 while passing the order dated 27.03.2025. In that matter the petitioner was seeking to submit the application and for which the window was required to be opened. It is in that context, by referring to the importance of submission of the applications within the scheduled period in the light of the observations made in the Vanshika Yadav V/s. Union of India & Ors., Writ Petition (Civil) No.335 of 2024, we had turned down the request of the petitioner to enable him to submit the application off-line.
5.
The analogy would be, if it is a matter of conducting examination and submission of applications, payment of the examination fees and a schedule is prescribed, anybody who fails to follow it is bound to
( 3 ) suffer the consequences. Hypothetically, allowing such a candidate to participate in the process could have a ramification in as much as, there would be one additional candidate in competition to the candidates who have already religiously followed the guidelines and submitted their applications for registration and are to appear at the examination. The discretion cannot be exercised in favour of the petitioner having some consequence on the other candidates.
6.
If the petitioner was really keen in undergoing the process she should have been vigilant. It would be too late in the day for us to exercise some discretion contrary to the scheme and the schedule. It would open the floodgates which we do not intend to get involved into. 7.
On our request, even the learned advocate for the respondents solicited some written instructions in the form of mail which he places on record and are marked 'X' for the purpose of identification. This communication mentions variety of reasons which would disentitle the petitioner from seeking any indulgence from this Court. The reply is reproduced hereunder for convenience and reads thus: "In the above captioned matter, theinstructions of NTA are as follows: 1.
The Application form for NEET (UG) 2025 was made live from 07.02.2025 to 07.03.2025 on official website-https://neet.nta.nic.in/, under
( 4 ) intimation to the aspiring candidates vide Notice Public dated 07.02.2025. Copy of the Public Notice is attached for reference. 2.
The Petitioner herein is Safiya Begum who filled up Application form for NEET (UG) 2025 up to the stage of uploading documents (i.e. Stage II of the Application Form) and did not make payment of Application fee online within stipulated date as mentioned above. Thus, candidate/Petitioner did not successfully submit her application complete in all respect within the stipulated time. It is pertinent to mention that submission of online payment within the stipulated time is integral part of the Application process.
3.
It is submitted on behalf of NTA that, all the Annlicants of NEET (UG) 2025 were informed through Information Bulletin for NEET (UG) 2025 that "After completing Step 1 and Step 2, the candidates have to pay the requisite examination fee. The Confirmation Page of the online Application Form will be generated only after successful payment by the Candidate". It was also informed that "The final submission of the Online Application will Form remain incomplete if Step 3 or Payment Process is not complete. Such forms will stand rejected and no correspondence on this account will be entertained."
4.
NTA, through another Public Notice dated 01.03.2025, reminded all candidates that the registration process for NEET (UG) 2025 is closing on 07.03.2025 and the candidates were advised to complete the process at the earliest and ensure timely submission to avoid any last-minute rush. However, it may be mentioned that the candidate has not remained alert to complete the online Application (Payment of Application fee) despite the aforesaid reminder. Copy of the Public Notice is attached for reference. 5.
It is submitted that allowing the Completion of Application process for one candidate in Examination involving 22.7 lacs of
( 5 ) candidates, especially when admit cards have been issued to the Candidates and the question paper and other Exam materials have been printed and delivered to the respective Exam centres for the conduct of NEET (UG) 2025 on 04.05.2025. It is also relevant to mention that there is no system of taking payment through separately after more than 1 month of the closing of the registration window can have significant cascading effects on the preparation process, particularly when the exam is scheduled to be held on 04.05.2025.
6.
As the process of examination should be taken to its logical conclusion and should be finalized by protecting the interest of all candidates, in the light of the above circumstances, in the larger public interest, the relief sought by the Petitioner to allow her to complete her Application form at this stage and allow her for Exam despite incomplete may not vehemently as the said writ petition is devoid of merits and be dismissed in the interest of justice."
8.
In view of such a stand of the respondents and our observations herein-above, the writ petition is dismissed. [Y.G. KHOBRAGADE, J.] [MANGESH S. PATIL, J.] mub