$~53 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + LPA 15/2026, CM APPL. 2721/2026 & CM APPL. 2722/2026 RUDRA NANDAN TIWARI .....Appellant Through: Mr. Chetan Tripathi, Advocate with appellant in person.

Versus GURU GOBIND SINGH INDRAPRASTHA UNIVERSITY & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Ms. Anita Sahani, Advocate for R-1.

Mr. Vikas Chopra, SC for MCD with Mr. Neeraj Kumar, Adv.

Mr. Balendu Shekhar, CGSC with Mr. Rajskumar Maurya, Mr. Krishna Chaitanya and Mr. Divyansh Singh Dev, Advs for R-3.

CORAM:

HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TEJAS KARIA

O R D E R

% 15.01.2026

1. The present Appeal has been filed being aggrieved by the order dated 03.12.2025 (“Impugned Order”) passed by the learned Single Judge in W.P. (C) 18188/2025 (“Writ Petition”), whereby the Writ Petition seeking the extension of time for payment of fees and reporting to the Medical College allotted to the Appellant was dismissed on the ground that such relief is impermissible in law.

2. The brief factual background of this Appeal is as under:

2.1. The Appellant is pursuing an undergraduate course from Maharani Laxmibai Medical College, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh and appeared in National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-2025 (“NEET-2025”) held on 04.05.2025 and secured an All India Rank of 19702 and General EWS Rank of 2215.

2.2. On 13.05.2025, the Appellant registered for counselling for NEET-2025. However, the Appellant was not offered any seat in Rounds 01, 02 and 03 of the counselling. After conclusion of Rounds 01, 02 and 03 of the counselling for NEET-2025, a Notification dated 11.11.2025 for conducting Stray Vacancy Round starting 11.11.2025 till 13.11.2025 through centralized online counselling for MBBS programme for the Academic Session 2025-26 was issued.

2.3. On 14.11.2025, another Notification was issued informing all stakeholders that the deadline for registration and choice filing for Stray Round for the Academic Session 2025-26 was extended till 12:00 Noon of 17.11.2025.

2.4. On 20.11.2025, the Appellant came to know that a Notification dated 19.11.2025 was issued, wherein the candidates who were allotted seats in Stray Vacancy Round were directed to make the part payment of academic fee of ₹96,000/- till 12:00 Noon of 20.11.2025 and physically report to the allotted institute before

6:00 PM on 20.11.2025.

2.5. Immediately, the Appellant checked the results of the Stray Vacancy Round as published on the website and found that he was selected for MBBS programme in North Delhi Municipal Corporation Medical College and Hindu Rao Hospital under Home State Quota. The Appellant was in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh on 20.11.2025 and tried to deposit the fees through Net-Banking, however, was unable to do so within the prescribed time as per Notification dated 19.11.2025 due to connectivity problem in Jhansi. The Appellant was also not in a position to report by 6:00 PM on 20.11.2025 as he was in Jhansi, which is approximately

500 kms from Delhi.

2.6. The Appellant immediately left for Delhi by train and travelled in general coach as he had no ticket and reached New Delhi Railway Station in the morning of 21.11.2025. He hired a Rapido bike at 5:43 AM to reach home.

2.7. The Appellant visited the allotted college and sent e-mails seeking extension of time for depositing the fees, however, there was no response. Accordingly, the Appellant filed the Writ Petition.

2.8. The Writ Petition was dismissed vide Impugned Order. Hence, the Appellant has filed the present Appeal.

3. The learned Counsel for the Appellant has made the following submissions:

3.1. Appellant is a meritorious candidate and fully qualified for being allotted to a seat. After the due process of selection, the Appellant was allotted the seat, however, due to inability to deposit the fees and report to the allotted college within time, the Appellant has been denied admission. It was submitted that the period of one day for depositing the fee and reporting to the allotted college was very short period and, therefore, the