Prajit v. The Union of India Represented by Its Secretary,

ORDER Seeking to direct the second Respondent to unlock/open the petitioner's NEET UG-2026 registration portal, permit the petitioner to rectify the registration by changing the category from Foreign National (Other than OCI) to OCI in terms of second respondent's notice Ref.U-11011/07/2026-MEC date 07.08.2026 and accept the petitioner's OCI document and permit the petitioner to participate in the NEET UG-2026 counselling within the time frame fixed by this Court, this Writ Petition is filed.

¶2The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner had appeared for NEET UG-2026 Examination conducted by the National Testing Agency(NTA) and became eligible to participate in the All India UG Counselling conducted by the second respondent. His NEET UG Roll number is 4106110368 and UG Application number is 260411394970. He is eligible to participate in the NEET UG-2026 counseling conducted by the second respondent.

¶3That apart, the petitioner also is a British citizen holding a valid Overseas Citizen of India(OCI) card and is entitled to be considered under OCI/NRI category in accordance with the applicable Rules. However, while submitting the online registration for counselling, inadvertently and by a bona fide mistake, the petitioner had selected the category "Foreign National (Other than OCI)" instead of "OCI". The mistake was purely accidental and there was absolutely no intention to suppress any facts or derive any undue advantage. Only during the document verification, the second respondent had raised a discrepancy stating that the uploaded document was not valid and the petitioner ought to have applied under the OCI category. Immediately the petitioner attempted to rectify the mistake through MCC, that is the second respondent portal.

¶4However, the discrepancy removal page did not provide any option for uploading an OCI document and only displayed options relating to Visa/Residence permit / Work permit which are not applicable to OCI Card Holder. All the attempts made by the petitioner to unlock and reset the facility introduced by the second respondent went futile and hence he had made a representation to the authorities in this regard on

07.08.2026, to permit him to rectify the registration by changing the category from 'Foreign National' to "OCI", for which he required the portal to be reopened.

¶5The learned counsel appearing for the 1st and 2nd respondents, submitted that the Medical Counseling Committee does not change any candidates category. As the details of any candidate profile is submitted on registration portal by the candidate himself, both at the time of registration for NEET UG exam conducted by the National Testing Agency and at the time of registration for counseling conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee, only when the Court permits that the category of the candidate would be changed, the respondents could take any positive action.

¶6He also submitted that the candidate will have to upload relevant documents for claiming the OCI category on MCC website which would be scrutinized by the NRI Scrutiny Committee and if all the documents are found correct, only then the candidate would be allowed for filling and all this process has to be completed as per schedule available on MCC website for counseling.

¶7Heard either sides and carefully perused the materials available on record. Considering the limited scope of relief sought for notice to the third respondent is dispensed with.

¶8Considering the fact that the present case is all about the educational prospectus of a bright student, this Court hereby directs the second respondent to unlock the portal and permit the petitioner to upload the relevant documents for claiming the OCI category in MCC website. On uploading the necessary documents by the petitioner, the NRI scrutiny committee is further directed to scrutinize the same and if the documents are found in order, then the second respondent is further directed to unlock the website facilitating the petitioner to upload the documents, forthwith.

¶9With the above direction this Writ Petition is allowed. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition stands closed.

11.08.2026 NCC : yes / no Index : yes / no Note : Issue order copy on 11.08.2026 pnn To

¶1The Secretary, Union of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Nirman Bhawan, Maulana Azad Road, New Delhi-110 011.

¶2The Medical Counselling Committee (Mcc), Represented by its Director, Directorate General of Health Service, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Nirman Bhawan, Maulan.

¶3National Medical Commission, Represented by its Secretary,, Pocket-14, Sector -8, Dwarka Phase-1, New Delhi-110 077.

¶4National Testing Agency, First Floor, Nsic-Mdbp Building, Okhla, Industrial Estate, New Delhi 110 020.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooL.oVICTORIAoGOWRI,oJ. ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooopnn oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooORDER oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooIN oooooooooooooooooooooooooWP(MD).oNo.23086oofo2026 and WMP(MD).oNo.17175oofo2026 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooDateoo:o11/08/2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 11/08/2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE L. VICTORIA GOWRI and WMP(MD). No.17175 of 2026 Prajit ... Petitioner Vs 1. The Union of India Represented by its Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Nirman Bhawan, Maulana Azad Road, New Delhi-110 011. 2. The Medical Counselling Committee (Mcc), Represented by its Director, Directorate General of Health Service, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Nirman Bhawan, Maulan. 3. National Medical Commission, Represented by its Secretary,, Pocket- 14, Sector -8, Dwarka Phase-1, New Delhi-110 077. 4. National Testing Agency, First Floor, Nsic-Mdbp Building, Okhla, Industrial Estate, New Delhi 110 020. ... Respondents PRAYER :- Writ Petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, call Directing the 2nd Respondent to unlock/open the petitioners NEET UG-2026 registration portal, permit the petitioner to rectify the registration by changing the category from Foreign National (Other than OCI) to OCI in terms of 2nd Respondents notice Ref.U-11011/07/2026-MEC date 07.08.2026 and accept the petitioners OCI document and permit the petitioner to participate in the NEET UG-2026 Counselling within the time frame fixed by this Court. For Petitioner : Mr.M.Beema Rao, Advocate. For Respondent : Mr.P.Subbiah - for R1 and R2 Government Advocate (Crl.Side) Mr.P.Karthick - for R4 Standing Counsel