Madras HC reserves order on NEET-UG retest plea over power outage, allows result release
CHENNAI: The Madras HC on Tuesday reserved orders on the petitions filed by the candidates appearing for the NEET-UG examination at three centres in the city and its suburbs seeking retest as they were allegedly affected by the power outage caused by sudden storm and heavy rains.
Justice C Kumarappan, before whom the petitions came up for hearing, refused to extend the interim stay, granted already by the court, on the release of the results. As a result, there is no legal bar on publishing the results which was scheduled for June 14.
The petitions were filed by some of the candidates who appeared for the examination at the Kendriya Vidyalaya at Avadi, Government Higher Secondary School in Kundrathur and Padma Seshadri School in KK Nagar.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) ARL Sundaresan, appearing for the Centre, filed a report on behalf of the National Testing Agency (NTA), saying inquiries revealed that a brief power outage was caused by sudden natural storm and rain in the respective places, but the power supply was restored quickly.
During this period, there was sufficient natural daylight in the classrooms; no contemporaneous complaint or representation was raised by any of the candidates including the petitioners regarding lighting or adverse conditions. Neither the centre superintendent nor any observers or invigilators recommended for compensatory time or reported any procedural irregularity; the examination was conducted strictly as per the NTA protocols, the ASG stated.
He also informed the court that an independent committee of statisticians was constituted to carry out an analysis of the performance of the centre and the students. The committee found no abnormal variation or decline in the number of attempted questions that would suggest disruption or disadvantage.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
HC quashes discharge order of jail warder
1 2 3 Cuttack: Orissa high court quashed the discharge order of a jail warder who was removed from service on allegations of suppressing criminal case details in his attestation form, which was submitted at the time of applying for the post. The vacation bench of Justice Aditya Kumar Mohapatra ruled that the discharge order of P Rajesh Reddy, issued by the senior superintendent of circle jail, Berhampur, on Feb 2, 2024, "is unsustainable in law". Reddy was appointed to the post of jail warder in Daspalla sub-jail on May 29, 2023. The authorities alleged that Reddy failed to disclose his involvement in two criminal cases registered at Chamakhandi police station. While seeking the HC's intervention, Reddy pleaded that he had no knowledge of the cases and was never implicated, detained, or arrested in connection with them. He claimed to be a victim of mistaken identity and stated that his name was wrongfully linked to the cases involving a protest over land acquisition. Upon examining the facts and legal position, Justice Mohapatra, in his May 26 order, ruled that the discharge order violated Article 311(2) of the Constitution and was void from the beginning. The judge further observed that the petitioner (Reddy) did not suppress any material facts within his knowledge, and subsequent investigation showed he was not involved in either case. Setting aside both the discharge order and the subsequent rejection of the petitioner's representation dated July 18, 2024, Justice Mohapatra directed the senior superintendent of circle jail (Berhampur) to reinstate the petitioner with all consequential service and financial benefits. "Further, it is directed that the period of discharge be treated as 'on duty' and the financial benefits accruing in favour of the petitioner for the said period be also calculated and disbursed in favour of the petitioner," Justice Mohapatra specified, adding, "Let the entire exercise be carried out within a period of two months. " Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Orissa HC directs govt to revise gradation list of secretariat ASOs
The bench of Justice AK Mohapatra noted that although Advertisement No. 08 was issued earlier in 2012, appointments from this list were delayed until October 2016 due to legal hurdles and administrative delays. In contrast, candidates under the 2015 advertisement were appointed on January 27, 2016 and May 18, 2016. Justice Mohapatra endorsed the principle that seniority in government service should be based on the actual date of appointment, not the date of the recruitment advertisement or recommendation, unless a rule explicitly states otherwise. While providing relief to candidates who were appointed earlier but placed lower in the seniority list, Justice Mohapatra ruled that the ASOs appointed earlier in 2016 under Advertisement No. 06 must be placed above those appointed later the same year under Advertisement No. 08 in the final gradation list published on June 11, 2020. The judge further ruled that promotees must be treated as en bloc senior to the direct recruits of the same calendar year and directed the Home department to revise the ASO gradation list in line with the court's directives, ensuring that seniority reflects the actual date of appointment. He also ruled that promotees must be treated as en bloc senior to the direct recruits of the same calendar year.
Hans India
9 hours ago
- Hans India
NEET-PG to be held on Aug 3 in single shift
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday allowed the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences to reschedule the NEET-PG exam to August 3, 2025. A bench comprising Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Augustine George Masih allowed the application filed by the NBE for extension of time to conduct the NEET exam till August 3, 2025. On May 30, the Supreme Court, while ordering the NBE to hold NEET-PG 2025 in single shift instead of two shifts, had directed it to conduct the exam on the initially scheduled date of June 15, 2025. At the same time, the Court had allowed the NBE to seek extension of time. Later, on June 3, the NBE filed an application seeking extension of time, saying that it needs to increase the number of centres by two-fold (from 450 to 900) and that security arrangements have to be done. The NBE also said that, even according to their technology partner TCS, August 3 is the nearest available date to conduct NEET. During the hearing, the bench initially questioned the NBE, asking why time was needed till August 3. The counsel for the NBE explained that the exam was initially proposed to be held in 450 centres with over 2.5 lakh candidates. Since the Court has directed the holding of exam in one shift, the number of centres will have to be doubled. The counsel said that it will take time to identify the centres and to ensure security arrangements.
