‘Power outage in NEET centres did not impact students' performance'
Appearing before Justice C. Kumarappan who was seized of writ petitions filed by a group of candidates, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) AR. L. Sundaresan said, the NTA had conducted a scientific assessment and found no such impact.
He said the examination was conducted in broad daylight, and hence, the power failure did not make much of a difference.
Moreover, the students could not have marked the OMR sheet if there had been any impact, he added.
Stating that the number of questions answered by the students before the court was compared with the district average, he said, such comparison showed that the students had answered a higher number of questions than the district average.
However, the petitioners' counsel wondered how such a defence could be taken by the NTA against the helpless students who had undergone a great deal of anxiety due to power outage, and consequently, could not perform to the best of their abilities.
After hearing both sides, the judge directed the High Court Registry to list the matter under the caption 'For Orders' on Friday.
Though the petitioners' counsel insisted on restraining the NTA from releasing the NEET 2025 results till then, the judge refused to pass any such interim order.
The ASG told the court that a summer vacation judge had directed the NTA not to release the results until the agency conducted an inquiry and found out whether the power outage in the three centres had any impact on the performance of the candidates.
Now that the inquiry is over, there should not be any impediment on releasing the results, he said, and urged the court to dismiss all three writ petitions filed by students who had appeared for NEET at the centres in Avadi, Kunrathur, and K.K. Nagar in Chennai.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann hands over 271 appointment letters
Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday handed over appointment letters to 271 new recruits in various govt departments. During the event, Mann claimed that his govt provided over 55,000 jobs to the state's youth in its three years in power. Mann said that these jobs were given to deserving youth based on their merit. He emphasized that all recruitments had been made through a completely transparent process. The chief minister urged the new recruits to serve the people with dedication and to work for the welfare of all sections of society. Criticising previous govts, Mann said they neglected education, leading to govt schools becoming mere "mid-day meal centres." In contrast, he highlighted his govt's focus on improving govt schools, which are being upgraded into "Schools of Eminence." He noted that Punjab ranked first in the National Achievement Survey and that many govt school students qualified for competitive exams like NEET and JEE. Mann concluded by stating that his govt is working tirelessly for the state's development, focusing on the overall growth and prosperity of Punjab across various sectors. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
The Hindu
7 hours ago
- The Hindu
No penalty for candidates who cancel State quota medical seats for national quota seats
The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has decided to scrap the penalty of ₹50,000 imposed on candidates who cancel State quota seats and opt for national quota seats during the second round of NEET counseling for admission to medical and dental courses. In addition, steps have been taken to provide a 'quit' option to facilitate candidates who cancel State quota seats and opt for national quota seats. The first round of counselling for admission to medical and dental courses in the State has been completed, and KEA has started the counselling process for second round. Candidates who did not get a seat in the college they were aspiring for in the first round and selected Choice-2 to participate in the second round have to pay the college fee in full, as per the rules. Students who got a seat in engineering and other courses in the first round but did not get admitted to the college and want a medical or dental seat in the second round, they have to pay a caution deposit of ₹1 lakh. Earlier, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) used to announce the seat allotment result for admission to national quota medical and dental courses for the second round. Later, KEA announced the seat allotment result for the State quota seats. At this time, candidates who got a seat under both the quotas and wanted to get admitted to the national quota seat had to pay a penalty of ₹50,000 while cancelling the State quota seats. Then cancelled seats were offered in the mop-up round. Steps to give quit option However, this year, the KEA has taken steps to conduct the second round of NEET counselling before the MCC. Speaking to The Hindu, H. Prasanna, Executive Director of KEA, said, 'This year, during the second round of counselling, we will announce the mock results of medical and dental seats as soon as the choice entry is completed. Then, we will wait until the announcement of MCC seat selection results for the national quota seats. After the results come, students will be given the 'quit' option. If anyone wants to quit from the counselling process and decides to cancel their medical and dental seats, they can go.' No penalty 'No penalty will be imposed on the candidates who cancel their State quota medical and dental seats for national quota seats. We will refund the complete fees paid by these candidates. Then we will re-run the second round by including the seats that are quit and announce the seat selection results. This will be more helpful for the students,' he added.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Cabinet nod for policies to boost jobs for women, youth & ex-servicemen
Dehradun: The Uttarakhand cabinet, which met soon after the state assembly was adjourned sine die on Wednesday, approved a proposal to frame separate policies aimed at increasing employment opportunities for women, youth and ex-servicemen. The policies will focus on skill development and creating jobs in both govt and private sectors. Training programmes will be organised for competitive examinations, including govt services, NEET, nursing, foreign languages and artificial intelligence. Large-scale youth festivals and job fairs will also be held. ITIs, polytechnics, and schools will work together to promote vocational education, while short-term, medium-term, and long-term plans will be implemented to connect youth with employment. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, "This initiative will go a long way in providing earning opportunities for people in the state." To promote self-employment among women and youth, training in beekeeping, apple cultivation and horticulture will be provided to 200 people in each block in the initial phase. A voluntary land consolidation scheme will also be launched shortly. An MoU has already been signed between the agriculture department and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) for the purchase of local products such as fruits, vegetables and milk. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These Are The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo Similar MoUs will be signed with the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and other central agencies to expand the market for local produce and enhance livelihoods. The industry department will facilitate market linkages in the private sector, while ex-servicemen working through UPNL will be integrated with govt schemes for employment and self-employment and matched with services suited to their qualifications across institutions. The cabinet also approved the Uttarakhand Crime Victim Assistance (Amendment) Scheme, 2025. Home secretary Shailesh Bagauli said that the existing Uttarakhand Crime Victim Assistance Scheme, 2013, amended in 2014 and 2016, was notified under section 357(A) of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973. While Pocso courts have issued orders for compensation to victims under the Pocso Act, 2012, the scheme so far lacked clear provisions, leading to practical difficulties. To address these gaps and ensure compliance with court directions, the scheme has been amended and the new provisions are being notified. A Schedule-2 has been added specifying minimum and maximum compensation amounts for Pocso victims, which will enable timely and effective assistance. To strengthen the justice system, the cabinet further approved the Uttarakhand Witness Protection Scheme, 2025. The scheme is designed to ensure the safety and dignity of witnesses so they can testify freely and truthfully in court without fear, pressure, or retaliation. It includes measures such as confidentiality of identity, relocation, changes in contact details, physical security arrangements and financial assistance when required. Confidentiality has been accorded the highest priority in all decisions. A state witness protection committee, comprising members of the judiciary, police, and senior district officials, has been constituted to assess witness security needs and implement appropriate protection measures promptly. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
