Chennai: Madras high court has stayed declaration of results of NEET-2025, citing power outage which affected 13 candidates at the Avadi examination centre near Chennai.Justice V Lakshminarayanan on Friday issued the interim order barring National Testing Agency (NTA) from releasing the results of NEET-2025 conducted on May 4. He also issued notice to NTA, directing it to submit its response by June 2.According to a group of 13 students, including Sai Priya from Thiruvallur, a total of 464 students wrote their NEET examination at the Kendriya Vidyalaya at the CRPF centre in Avadi. The exam was scheduled between 2pm and 5pm on May 4.However, heavy rain started around that time and a power outage occurred from 3pm to 4.15pm. No backup power facilities were arranged at the centre. As a result, students had to write the exam under poor lighting conditions. Additionally, rainwater entered the exam hall, and students were asked to shift to another location, causing further disruptions.So, students were unable to fully demonstrate their abilities. A request made to the exam authorities to allot additional time was also denied. Consequently, students could not complete the exam properly, their counsel told the court.The students experienced stress and disorientation, which adversely affected their performance, they said, adding that repeated requests for a re-examination were not entertained by the examiners.Denying a re-exam has violated the students’ fundamental rights under Article 21 of the Constitution, as they were denied a fair opportunity to succeed, they said. Their dreams of pursuing a medical career could be shattered, they contended.Representing NTA, additional solicitor-general A R L Sundaresan requested time to respond to verify whether a power outage actually occurred during the examination and whether the students’ request could be considered. Recording the submissions, the court passed the interim order and adjourned the hearing to June 2.Chennai: Madras high court has stayed declaration of results of NEET-2025, citing power outage which affected 13 candidates at the Avadi examination centre near Chennai.Justice V Lakshminarayanan on Friday issued the interim order barring National Testing Agency (NTA) from releasing the results of NEET-2025 conducted on May 4. He also issued notice to NTA, directing it to submit its response by June 2.According to a group of 13 students, including Sai Priya from Thiruvallur, a total of 464 students wrote their NEET examination at the Kendriya Vidyalaya at the CRPF centre in Avadi. The exam was scheduled between 2pm and 5pm on May 4.However, heavy rain started around that time and a power outage occurred from 3pm to 4.15pm. No backup power facilities were arranged at the centre. As a result, students had to write the exam under poor lighting conditions. Additionally, rainwater entered the exam hall, and students were asked to shift to another location, causing further disruptions.So, students were unable to fully demonstrate their abilities. A request made to the exam authorities to allot additional time was also denied. Consequently, students could not complete the exam properly, their counsel told the court.The students experienced stress and disorientation, which adversely affected their performance, they said, adding that repeated requests for a re-examination were not entertained by the examiners.Denying a re-exam has violated the students’ fundamental rights under Article 21 of the Constitution, as they were denied a fair opportunity to succeed, they said. Their dreams of pursuing a medical career could be shattered, they contended.Representing NTA, additional solicitor-general A R L Sundaresan requested time to respond to verify whether a power outage actually occurred during the examination and whether the students’ request could be considered. Recording the submissions, the court passed the interim order and adjourned the hearing to June 2.