The Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued an interim stay on the results of the NEET-UG examination until it hears a series of petitions filed by applicants from Indore, who claimed they were forced to take the exam in candlelight due to power failures at their examination center.
The NEET-UG exam, held on May 4, 2025, saw several students in Indore facing significant challenges when their exam center experienced power outages. According to the petitioners, the power failure lasted for up to two hours, and students were left to take the exam using emergency lighting like candles or lamps, which severely impacted their ability to complete the exam under normal conditions.
Justice Abhyankar, in his order issued on Thursday, stated: “Considering the fact that the respondent(s) have failed to provide proper conditions to the petitioner, who was appearing in NEET-UG examination, which was held on 04.05.2025, and was prevented due to power failure in various parts of the city, it is directed that till the next date of hearing, the result of NEET-UG shall not be declared by the respondents.â€
The petitioners, who are seeking re-examination or an alternative assessment to ensure a fair evaluation, have named several parties as respondents, including the National Testing Agency (NTA), the Ministry of Education, the Health and Family Welfare Ministry, the MP Paschim Khestra Vidyut Company, and the Government New Law College in Indore, where the affected exam center is located. The court has issued notices to these entities for further proceedings.
One of the petitioners explained in the complaint that the exam at the Government New Law College center was disrupted by a power outage despite warnings from the Indian Meteorological Department about heavy thunderstorms in the area. The petition asserts that the lack of adequate backup power at the center, which affected several students, rendered the exam unfair, and the situation was "discriminatory, arbitrary, illegal, capricious, and high-handed."
The petitioners argue that the failure to provide adequate facilities, especially considering the significance of the NEET exam for students' futures, placed their academic careers at risk. As the court proceedings continue, the applicants hope that the stay on results and their plea for a re-examination will lead to a fair resolution.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court’s decision has added pressure on the authorities involved, especially the National Testing Agency and state utilities, to address the issue and ensure that such incidents do not affect future examinations.
With the court set to hear the case again soon, the students and their families remain hopeful that justice will be served, allowing them to pursue their academic and career goals without further hindrance.
