Bhopal/Indore: In a significant turn of events, the 2-Judge Division Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has stayed the earlier order passed by its single bench, which had directed the re-conduct of NEET-UG 2025 for select students affected by power outages at exam centres in Indore and Ujjain. The matter will now be taken up on July 10, when the court will hear all parties before deciding on the next course of action, including the commencement of NEET UG 2025 counselling.
Why Was a Re-Test Ordered?
Earlier this month, the Indore Bench of the MP High Court, in response to over 100 petitions filed by students from Indore and Ujjain, ordered the National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct a re-exam for students who faced disruptions due to power failures on the day of NEET UG 2025 (May 4).
Petitioners alleged that a thunderstorm caused electricity blackouts at several centres, leading to students having to write their papers in near-dark conditions, with no emergency backup or natural light. The absence of lighting was cited as a major lapse.
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Justice Subodh Abhyankar, who delivered the order, ruled that the affected students’ right to equality under Article 14 had been violated. The re-test was allowed only for students who had filed writ petitions before June 3, the date on which the NEET UG 2025 provisional answer key was released.
What the Division Bench Said
Acting on an appeal filed by the NTA, the Division Bench has now issued a stay on the re-test order, citing the need for more evaluation of evidence and its impact on the admission process.
Join NEET News 2025 Key highlights from today’s order:
- The re-test is paused until further court direction.
- The next hearing is scheduled for July 10, 2025.
- NEET counselling dates will also be determined on that day.
- The NTA, petitioners, and relevant authorities must file additional submissions before the hearing.
What This Means for Students
For now, no re-test will be conducted, and NEET UG 2025 counselling is on hold. This has created uncertainty for lakhs of candidates waiting for admission to MBBS and BDS courses across India.
Students who filed the original petitions may still have the opportunity to reappear for the test if the Division Bench eventually upholds the single bench ruling.
Meanwhile, those who were against the re-test, claiming it would unfairly delay the counselling process, have welcomed the stay order.
Implications on NEET UG Counselling
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and state authorities like DME Madhya Pradesh will not proceed with counselling rounds until a final verdict is issued.
If the Division Bench:
- Upholds the re-test; only those petitioners will reappear, and their fresh scores will determine their ranks.
- Strikes down the re-test; the existing NEET UG 2025 scores will be used for counselling.
Read Also: MP High Court Announced NEET UG 2025 Re-Exam for Students Who Faced Power Failure
Arguments Presented by NTA
The NTA argued that:
- Only minor disruptions occurred, and alternative lighting was provided.
- Re-testing a small group would disrupt the uniformity of NEET and be unfair to the majority.
- A logistical burden for a national exam body already handling over 23 lakh test-takers.
However, the single bench had rejected these arguments earlier, noting:
- The mental and psychological impact of even a 10-minute disruption is critical.
- NTA failed to present CCTV evidence, weakening its credibility.
- Re-testing for a limited group is manageable with NTA’s resources.
Student Voices
“We’re hopeful the final verdict will give us justice. We lost crucial time due to power cuts,” said a petitioner from Ujjain.
“This delay in counselling is unfair to lakhs of us who studied honestly and took the exam without issues,” countered a top scorer from Bhopal.
This case brings to light the fragility of examination infrastructure and the lack of accountability during high-stakes national exams like NEET. While the court’s decision seeks to ensure fairness, it also highlights the need for systemic improvements in disaster preparedness, real-time monitoring, and student grievance redressal during national-level tests.
