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CDJ 2026 MHC 5838 My Notes print Preview print print
Court : Before the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court
Case No : WP.(MD). No. 23617 of 2026 & W.M.P.(MD). Nos. 17554 & 17555 of 2026
Judges: THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C. SARAVANAN
Parties : Minor D. Bradley Fletcher, Rep. by his Natural Guardian, (His Mother) A. Akino, Madurai Versus The Directorate of Medical Education, Chennai & Another
Appearing Advocates : For the Petitioners: Veera. Kathiravan, Senior Counsel, P.T. Thiraviam, Advocate. For the Respondents: R. Rajagopal, Additional Government Pleader.
Date of Judgment : 13-08-2026
Head Note :-
Constitution of India - Article 226 -
Judgment :-

(Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of MANDAMUS, directing the 2nd respondent to rectify the category classification of the petitioner’s son’s management Quota Application No 26UG920146 from General category to Christian Minority Category and further direct the respondents to include petitioner’s son’s name in the Christian Minority Category rank list for Management quota seats and further permit the petitioner’s son to participate in the counselling process for the said category for the MBBS/BDS course for the Academic Year 2026-27 and pass such other or further orders as this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of this case and thus render justice.)

1. The petitioner has secured a lunch motion for urgent relief in the present Writ Petition. The Writ Petition has been filed seeking a Writ of Mandamus to direct the second respondent to rectify the category classification in the petitioner’s son’s Management Quota Application No.26UG920146, by changing the category from “General” to “Christian Minority Category”, and consequently, direct the respondents to include the petitioner’s son’s name in the rank list under the Christian Minority Category for Management Quota seats and permit him to participate in the counselling process under the said category for admission to the MBBS/BDS courses for the Academic Year 2026–2027.

2. The petitioner belongs to the Christian Minority Category and had applied for a medical seat in Tamil Nadu both under the Government Quota and the Management Quota. However, while submitting the application under the Management Quota, the petitioner inadvertently selected “No” against the column relating to the Religious Minority Category.

3. It is submitted that, in the online application system, the option against the Religious Minority Category is set to “No” by default, and the applicant is required to specifically select “Yes” to claim the benefit of the Minority Category. Owing to the inadvertent omission on the part of the petitioner in changing the default option, the petitioner’s son was not considered under the Christian Minority Category in respect of the Management Quota application.

4. It is submitted that the provisional list of candidates eligible under the Christian Minority Category for the 20% quota against the Government Quota has included the name of the petitioner’s son at Serial No.1465. Likewise, in the provisional rank list for the Management Quota under the General Category, the petitioner’s son has been ranked at Serial No.20888.

5. It is further submitted that, in the provisional rank list against the Government Quota, the petitioner’s son has been ranked at Serial No.29715. However, his name has not been included in the provisional list of candidates eligible under the Christian Minority Category against the Management Quota.

6. It is therefore submitted that the omission occurred only in the Management Quota application and was purely inadvertent. The petitioner’s son is otherwise eligible to be considered under the Management Quota for seats earmarked for the Christian Minority Category.

7. The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner drew the attention of this Court to the order passed by this Court on 11.08.2026 in W.P. (MD)No.23087 of 2026, in the case of T.Merlin Rafina v. The Directorate of Medical Education and another, wherein, in paragraphs 11 and 12, this Court has held as follows:

                     ‘’11. The perusal of the materials placed before me would make it clear that the petitioner before this Court is seeking admission for Medical Course only under the religious and linguistic minority, to try her luck only under the management quota. I do not find that any student in the merit list would be adversely affected if the petitioner is permitted to upload her Christian Religious Minority Certificate.

                     12. Therefore, the respondents are directed to permit the petitioner to upload her Christian Religious Minority Certificate and to permit the petitioner to take part in the MBBS 2026-2027 selection process under the Religious Minority Category.’’

8. The learned Additional Government Pleader for the respondents, on the other hand, submits that the online application cannot be altered at this distant point of time since the results have already been announced and the counselling has also commenced. It is submitted that the counselling for Management Quota has also commenced today and therefore, there is no scope for including the name of the petitioner at the 11th hour after the counselling has commenced.

9. Taking note of the decision of this Court rendered in T.Merlin Rafina’s case, referred to supra, and considering the fact that the petitioner may otherwise be eligible for reservation against the Management Quota under the Christian Minority Category, I am inclined to direct the petitioner to approach the second respondent along with the necessary documents and in case the petitioner is eligible, he may be suitably accommodated against the candidates selected for counselling against the Management Christian Minority Category quota.

10. The Writ Petition stands disposed of accordingly. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed.
 
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