In Brief
Ten candidates sought MBBS admission at a private medical college after appearing in NEET. They missed the online application deadline (09.09.2016) due to website technical issues, but the college later issued a notice inviting candidates with proof of prior failed registration attempts and demand drafts dated before the deadline. The Admission Supervisory Committee and Kerala High Court rejected the admissions as non-compliant with the original deadline. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal, holding that the admissions were valid because: the candidates qualified on NEET merit; they produced demand drafts showing genuine prior intent; no higher-ranked candidate was denied admission; and appropriate safeguards prevented opportunistic applications. The court balanced procedural strictness against substantial justice, prioritizing merit-based selection over technical timeline compliance."
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