Power Outage No Ground for Re-Test | Madras HC Cites No Malice and Backs NTA’s Scientific Probe in NEET 2025 Verdict
Sanchayita Lahkar
The High Court of Madras Single Bench of Justice C. Kumarappan has dismissed five writ petitions that sought a direction to the National Testing Agency and the National Medical Commission to conduct a re-examination for NEET (UG) 2025 candidates affected by a reported power outage during the test. The Court concluded that there was no material to indicate mala fides or procedural lapses and accepted the findings of the enquiry conducted by the authorities. Consequently, all writ petitions were dismissed without costs.
The petitions were filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the National Medical Commission (2nd respondent) and the National Testing Agency (3rd respondent) to consider representations from the petitioners and similarly affected candidates who appeared for the NEET (UG) 2025 examination on 04.05.2025.
The petitioners, numbering over a dozen, appeared for the NEET (UG) 2025 examination in different centres across Chennai and its outskirts: PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya CRPF in Avadi, Government Girls Higher Secondary School on Ponniamman Koil Street in Kundrathur, Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan Senior Secondary School in K.K. Nagar, and PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya in Minambakkam. According to the petitioners, all these centres experienced power outages during the exam duration.
It was the contention of the petitioners that these power outages adversely impacted their ability to attempt the exam to the best of their potential. The disruptions reportedly lasted between 20 minutes and over an hour in some centres, allegedly without compensatory time or adequate backup power arrangements.
Specifically, the petitioners alleged:
- At PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya CRPF, Avadi: power outage occurred between 3.00 PM and 4.15 PM.
- At Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan, K.K. Nagar: there was a 20-minute outage around 3.00 PM.
- At Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Kundrathur: outage from 3.40 PM to 4.10 PM.
- At PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya, Minambakkam: outage lasted from 3.00 PM to 3.45 PM.
The petitioners argued that the absence of power backup and the lack of compensatory time seriously hindered their performance and amounted to procedural irregularity. They further challenged the veracity of the respondents’ rebuttal, claiming that in the absence of CCTV footage, any denial of the impact by authorities must be treated as self-serving.
On 16.05.2025, during earlier proceedings, the learned Additional Solicitor General appearing for the respondents submitted before the Court that a factual inquiry would be undertaken to assess the power outage claims and its possible impact on examination conditions.
Pursuant to this, a field verification was conducted involving the Centre Superintendent, City Coordinator, NTA-appointed Observers, and Invigilators on duty during the examination. A detailed report was prepared and submitted by the respondents.
The petitioners challenged this report, reiterating that the lack of CCTV evidence and contemporaneous support undermines the credibility of the findings. They sought a direction for re-examination in the interest of fairness and equity, particularly given the high stakes involved in NEET (UG) admissions.
The respondents submitted that the examination was conducted nationwide with over 22 lakh candidates in a single session, and any direction for re-examination based on localized and unsubstantiated claims would undermine the integrity and logistical feasibility of the examination process.
Justice C. Kumarappan recorded that the respondents had complied with the earlier assurance and had conducted a factual enquiry. The report of the National Testing Agency was examined.
"According to their report, though there was brief power outage, the same has not affected the performance of candidates, as the examination halls were reported to be sufficiently illuminated with the natural daylight."
"The report further says that the School Authorities have also arranged for power backup facility."
The Court further quoted the response submitted by the NTA dated 01.06.2025, which elaborated the nature of the enquiry:
"NTA checked the contention of the candidate and obtained written factual reports from all key functionaries deployed at the said centre, including: Centre Superintendent, City Coordinator, NTA-appointed Observers, and Invigilators on duty in the examination halls."
"Despite [the power outage], the examination rooms were reported to be sufficiently illuminated with ambient daylight, for the exam purpose the exam was held during peak afternoon hours in early May between 02:00 pm to 05:00 pm."
"No disruption of examination was reported. Candidates remained seated and continued writing without disturbance or pause."
"No contemporaneous complaints or representations were raised or projected by any of the candidates including the petitioners regarding lighting or adverse exam conditions during the conduct of the exam."
The Court recorded the petitioners’ objection to the report as self-serving in the absence of CCTV footage, but ultimately noted: "When the National Testing Agency, after thorough investigation had arrived at the above conclusion, though such conclusion was disputed by the petitioners, this Court has found no grounds to deviate from the above conclusion, as there is no malice pleaded against the National Testing Agency."
In its concluding observations, the Court recorded: "Furthermore, all over India, there were about 22 lakhs students have participated in the NEET (UG) 2025 examination. In such view of the matter, if any re-examination is permitted on trivial grounds, the same would seriously affect the level playing field of more than two million candidates."
The Court dismissed all five writ petitions, finding no substantive merit in the claims made by the petitioners. Justice Kumarappan stated:
"Therefore, when the Authority themself, after field verification and with the scientific method, had arrived at a reasonable conclusion that there are no grounds for re-examination, the same needs to be accepted, unless the said report is tainted with mala fides."
"In the instant cases, I do not find any mala fides on the part of the respondents."
"Furthermore, all over India, there were about 22 lakhs students have participated in the NEET (UG) 2025 examination. In such view of the matter, if any re-examination is permitted on trivial grounds, the same would seriously affect the level playing field of more than two million candidates."
"Hence, this Court does not find any merit in these writ petitions."
"In the result, all these Writ Petitions are dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected WMPs are also closed."
Advocates Representing the Parties
For the Petitioners: Mr. T. Saikrishnan, Mr. V. Baskaran, Mr. V. Ramana Reddy, Advocates
For the Respondents: Mr. M. Sathyan, Central Government Standing Counsel; Mr. AR.L. Sundaresan, Additional Solicitor General for Ms. Sunitha Kumari; Ms. Subaranjani Ananth, Standing Counsel for NMC
Case Title: S. Sai Priya & Ors. vs Union of India & Ors.
Neutral Citation: NA
Case Number: WP.Nos.18359, 19359, 19337, 19369 & 19004 of 2025
Bench: Justice C. Kumarappan
[Read/Download order]
