In Brief
A medical student was rejected for MBBS admission under the Sports and Games quota due to administrative delays, though she was meritorious and had submitted required documentation promptly. The High Court found her entitled to admission but awarded only monetary compensation (Rs. 5 lakhs), citing a precedent that compensation is the sole remedy when the admission deadline has passed. The Supreme Court held that monetary compensation alone is inadequate for deprivation of fundamental rights. Where a student is meritorious, approaches the court expeditiously without fault, and the authorities are responsible for the denial, substantive relief (admission) must be granted rather than compensation alone. The Court directed her admission in a subsequent academic year and referred the precedent restricting relief to compensation for larger bench reconsideration, holding that constitutional courts must grant real relief to protect fundamental rights.
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