Justice HS Thangkhiew took note of the fact that the petitioner’s admission had been considered on merits against four vacant seats of which one now remains.
The link details for joining the video conference call for counselling had been communicated by the institute but landed in the spam section of the petitioner’s email account, and was not shared anywhere else on mobile or otherwise.
The candidate went on to miss her scheduled e-counselling session and lost out on the seat, after which she moved Court.
“In this age of technology and in the prevalent COVID situation, a lot of such lapses have occurred especially when it concerns matters like these which involves communication through digital platforms … In this view of the matter considering that in the normal circumstances, nothing would have prevented the writ petitioner from tendering her candidature for the said seat, the instant matter being peculiarly situated deserves consideration on a different footing” the single-Judge stated.
Noting that the student was at a risk of being deprived of a seat to pursue MBBS, the High Court directed the respondents to facilitate counselling via physical mode or otherwise, within one week with prior notice.
“The respondents shall take into consideration the merit of the petitioner and complete the process of selection for the fourth seat expeditiously taking into consideration the fact that the session has since commenced,” the Court said.
Source: Barandbench
