High Court · 2025

W.P No.28342 of 2025IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRASDATED : 29.07.2025CORAMTHE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPANWrit Petition No.28342 of 2025andWrit Miscellaneous Petition Nos.31728 & 31730 of 2025Nudi. AV... Petitioner..Vs..The Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC),Rep. by its Coordinator,Directorate of Higher and Technical Education,Government of Puducherry,Puducherry.... RespondentPRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the impugned communication dated NIL sent by the respondent intimating that the petitioner should have completed Higher Secondary Course in 2025 to claim 3A and 3B for residence and submit Residence Certificate from Revenue Department as proof of residence in Puducherry after completion of Higher Secondary Course, and quash the same and consequently direct the respondent to include the name of the petitioner in the Draft Merit List – Government Quota-U.T – Overall published on 25.07.2025 on the basis the application submitted by the petitioner vide Application No.62500293 by considering the documents already submitted and also considering the NEET mark and rank.1/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P No.28342 of 2025For Petitioner :Mr.A.RahulFor Respondent :Mr.A.Tamilvanan,Additional Government Pleader (Pondicherry) ORDERThe present writ petition has been filed to quash the impugned communication sent by the respondent intimating that the petitioner should have completed Higher Secondary Course in 2025 to claim 3a and 3b for residence and submit Residence Certificate from Revenue Department as proof of residence in Puducherry after completion of Higher Secondary Course and to include the name of the petitioner in the Draft Merit List – Government Quota-U.T – Overall published on 25.07.2025.2. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner appeared for the NEET-UG Exam 2025 and scored 438 marks out of 720. According to the petitioner, her All India Rank is 141245, under the General Category and got ranked at 47422. It is further submitted that the petitioner applied for CENTAC-UG NEET Admission for the academic year 2025-2026 under the General Quota. However, the application was rejected on the following grounds:2/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P No.28342 of 2025“Neet Score Card-SuccessClaim – Success – Candidate should have completed HSC in 2025 to claim 3A and 3B for residence. Changed to OTHER STATE”“Neet Score Card – SuccessClaim – Failed – Candidate should have completed HSC in 2025 to claim 3A and 3B for residence. Changed to OTHER STATE, Submit Residence Certificate from Revenue Department as proof of your residence in Puducherry after completion of HSC.”2.1 The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner falls within the categories specified under the 3a and 3b of the 2025-26 brochure. However, due to wrong interpretation, the respondent has denied the opportunity of the petitioner to participate in the counseling process.3. Per contra, the learned Additional Government Pleader Puducherry appearing on behalf of the respondent contends that though the petitioner claims to fall under categories 3a and 3b, since she completed her Higher Secondary education in 2024, the same was rejected and that to participate in the CENTAC-UG NEET Admission for the year 2025-26, candidates must 3/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P No.28342 of 2025have completed their Higher Secondary education in the year 2025, and to have continuous residence. Therefore, the respondent prayed to dismiss the writ petition.4. I have given my anxious consideration on either side submissions and also perused the materials available on record.5. The short point to be considered is whether the petitioner has satisfied the “Residence Criteria” as stipulated under 8.1.1 of the CENTAC 2025-2026, information brochure, which requires the candidate to fulfill the following conditions:“4. a) Children whose parents are Central/State Government Servants/Defence Personnel / Central Paramilitary Forces / Employees of Public Sector Undertakings wholly or substantially owned either by the Central Government or by the Puducherry Administration posted and serving in U.T. of Puducherry for at least a minimum continuous period of three years immediately prior to the last date of submission of application.(AND)4/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P No.28342 of 2025b) Children of the above said employees should have studied HSC of two years in any of the schools in the U.T of Puducherry and should have passed the qualifying examinations (HSC) from the same school. (G.O. Ms.No.04, Puducherry dated 09.02.2016 of the Chief Secretariat (Hr. & Tech. Edn.,), Puducherry).”6. While perusing the above clause, it is obvious that the candidates parent must serve in the Union Territory of Puducherry for at least minimum continuous period of three years immediately prior to the last date of submission of application. Likewise, the children also should have studied Higher Secondary of two years in any of the Schools in Union Territory of Puducherry and should have passed qualifying examinations from the recognized school. In this case, the petitioner has submitted Certificates in Form 3a and Form 3b as per the Proforma given in the brochure. As per the Proforma, the petitioner submitted Certificate issued by the Pondicherry University confirming the residence of the petitioner's father in Puducherry since 30.11.2021. Similarly, “Aditya Vishyashram Residential School”, Puducherry, has provided a certificate, certifying that the petitioner completed 5/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P No.28342 of 2025Higher Secondary education in Puducherry for the academic year 2023-2024.7. As observed herein above, the Certificates submitted by the petitioner fulfil the requirements stipulated under clauses 4a and 4b of Clause 8.1.1 of the brochure, as the petitioner’s parent has been serving in Puducherry continuously for over three years, and the petitioner has completed two years of Higher Secondary education in Puducherry. Therefore, this Court is of the firm view that the impugned order rejecting the candidate on the basis that she did not complete Higher Secondary education in 2025 and did not submit Certificate from Revenue Authority is in contravention to the provisions set forth in the brochure under clauses 8.1.1, 4a, and 4b. As a matter of fact, no where in the brochure refers about the Residence Certificate issued by the Revenue Authority. Therefore, it becomes necessary to set aside the impugned order, and the respondent is directed to include the petitioner's name in the Revised Merit List – Government Quota-U.T by considering the documents already submitted by the petitioner, if she is otherwise eligible. The respondent is further directed to comply with this order forthwith.6/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P No.28342 of 20258. In the result, the Writ Petition is allowed. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions also stand closed. 29.07.2025ssiIndex : Yes Speaking Order : Yes/No Neutral Citation Case: Yes/NoTo:The Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC),Rep. by its Coordinator,Directorate of Higher and Technical Education,Government of Puducherry,Puducherry.C.KUMARAPPAN, J.7/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P No.28342 of 2025ssiW.P.No.28342 of 202529.07.20258/8