Merlin Rafina T v. The Directorate of Medical Education

ORDER Seeking to direct the respondents to permit the petitioner to upload her Christian Religious Minority Certificate and to permit the petitioner to take part in the MBBS 2026-2027 selection process under the Religious Minority Category, this Writ Petition is filed.

¶2The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is a NEET UG-2026 examination bearing Roll No.4113104559 and Application No.260410516134 and on the strength of the rank/merit secured, the petitioner applied for admission to the MBBS/BDS Degree Courses for the academic year 2026-2027 under the Management Quota before the second respondent / Selection Committee vide Application No.26UG901355.

¶3The petitioner belongs to the Christian religion, which is a fact that stands duly recorded in her management quota application itself where her religion is shown as Christian. The petitioner holds a religious and Linguistic Minority Certificate dated 07.08.2026 issued by the Principal of the said institution, where she had completed her school education.

¶4While filling up her online application for Management Quota seats in MBBS / BDS Courses for the academic year 2026-2027 in column 12(c) of the application namely "Apply under Religious Minority Category?", the answer has inadvertently typed as "No" instead of "Yes". The same was not wanton but a bona fide mistake. Had the petitioner had promptly clicked yes, she would be considered under the Christian Minority Category.

¶5The said error is purely inadvertent and unintentional. Upon noticing the said inadvertent error, the petitioner had caused a representation dated 07.08.2026 to the second respondent, seeking to reopen the portal, seeking to permit a petitioner to upload her Christian Religious Minority Certificate and permit her to take part in MBBS/BDS 2026-2027 selection process or other religious minority category. However, the petitioner's representation is not considered, hence this writ petition.

¶6The learned Additional Government Pleader categorically contended that such an exercise is quite impossible since the complete process of applying has already been closed. Earlier, the last date for making applications was fixed as 26.06.2026, which was later extended considering the plight of various students till 27.07.2026. The petitioner, having not availed the said period of time for uploading her Minority Certificate, diligently, after a lapse of 10 days, she had made a representation on 07.08.2026, seeking to permit her to upload her Christian Religious Minority certificate, which is quite impermissible for the respondent department.

¶7The second respondent will have to do the complete exercise afresh, causing great difficulty for the department to deal with the same since already the counseling is scheduled to be commenced on

13.08.2026. If the petition is permitted to upload her Christian Minority Certificate, then the counseling process will be further delayed.

¶8The prospectus in Clause 12(c) has made it clear that the students seeking Special Linguistics Religious Minority status should upload the relevant documents along with the application form itself. The said Clause specifically provides that any claim made subsequently will be duly rejected. In the presence of such Clause, the students should be very cautious enough while making application itself to promptly and perfectly upload the documents and after the closure of the application process, the petitioner's request cannot be considered anymore and sought for dismissal of the writ petition.

¶9The learned counsel for the petitioner relied upon an order of this Court made in WP.No.31608 of 2026 dated 07.08.2026, wherein this Court permitted the student who sought to upload his Telugu Linguistic Minority Certificate.

¶10However, the learned Additional Government Pleader submitted that the said application was considered, before the last date for application, ie., on 07.08.2026. Now that the last date for the application had elapsed and therefore the petitioner's request cannot be considered. The merit list is also already made ready and if the petitioner is permitted to upload her minority certificate, the same will completely tilt the sequence of the merit list which has already been arrived at by the authorities.

¶11The perusal of the materials placed before me would make it clear that the petitioner before this Court is seeking admission for Medical Course only under the religious and linguistic minority, to try her luck only under the management quota. I do not find that any student in the merit list would be adversely affected if the petitioner is permitted to upload her Christian Religious Minority Certificate.

¶12Therefore, the respondents are directed to permit the petitioner to upload her Christian Religious Minority Certificate and to permit the petitioner to take part in the MBBS 2026-2027 selection process under the Religious Minority Category.

¶13With the above direction, this Writ Petition is Allowed. No costs.

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

¶1The Directorate of Medical Education, 162, Periyar E.V.R. High Road, Kilpauk, Chennai - 600 010.

¶2The Secretary, Selection Committee, Directorate of Medical Education and Research, 162, Periyar E.V.R. High Road, Kilpauk, Chennai - 600 010. oooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooL.oVICTORIAoGOWRI,oJ ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooopnn oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooORDER oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooIN oooooooooooooooooooooooooWP(MD)oNo.23087oofo2026 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooDateoo:o11/08/2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 11/08/2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE L. VICTORIA GOWRI Merlin Rafina T ... Petitioner Vs 1. The Directorate of Medical Education, 162, Periyar E.V.R. High Road, Kilpauk, Chennai - 600 010. 2. The Secretary, Selection Committee, Directorate of Medical Education and Research, 162, Periyar E.V.R. High Road, Kilpauk, Chennai - 600 010. ... Respondents PRAYER :- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the Respondents to permit the Petitioner to upload her Christian Religious Minority Certificate and to permit the Petitioner to take part in the MBBS 2026-2027 selection process under the Religious Minority Category. For Petitioner : Mr. Balakumar G R, Advocate. For Respondent : Mr.P.Rajagopalan - for R1 and R2 Additional Government Pleader