MP High Court Seeks Response on One Grace Mark for MBBS Student to Save Academic Year
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has sought a response from the Chancellor of Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University, Jabalpur, on whether the university has the power to grant one grace mark to an MBBS student who narrowly failed the first-year examination.
The matter concerns a student of Gajra Raja Medical College, Gwalior, who approached the court after reportedly falling short of the required marks by just one mark.
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MBBS Student Seeks One Grace Mark
The petitioner, Ramnaresh Kushwah, is an MBBS student affiliated with Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University. According to the report, he failed his first-year MBBS examination by one mark.
The student has been attending second-year classes but stated that the deficiency in his first-year result could prevent him from progressing academically and may result in the loss of an academic year.
Case at a Glance: The student has sought relief after reportedly falling short of the required first-year MBBS examination marks by one mark.
What Did the Madhya Pradesh High Court Say?
On September 8, 2026, a division bench comprising Justice Vivek Agarwal and Justice A.K. Singh asked the Additional Advocate General to obtain information from the university's Chancellor regarding whether the university has any provision or extraordinary power to grant one grace mark in such circumstances.
The court specifically sought clarification on whether such a provision could be used to help the student avoid losing an academic year.
Current Status: The High Court has sought clarification regarding the Chancellor's powers. The court has not yet directed the university to grant the requested grace mark.
Student Relies on University Ordinance
The student has reportedly relied on Clause 32 of the Madhya Pradesh Universities Common Ordinance No. 6, arguing that the Chancellor has extraordinary jurisdiction to grant grace marks in cases involving exceptional hardship.
However, the High Court has not yet directed the university to grant the grace mark. The present proceedings are focused on obtaining clarification regarding the Chancellor's powers under the applicable university rules.
What the Court Is Considering
- Whether the university has a provision permitting a grace mark in such circumstances.
- Whether the Chancellor possesses extraordinary powers under the applicable ordinance.
- Whether such powers can be considered in a case involving potential loss of an academic year.
Why One Mark Matters in MBBS Examination
For medical students, failing an examination by a very narrow margin can have consequences for progression to subsequent years. A student may face restrictions related to appearing in subsequent examinations or continuing the academic programme, depending on the applicable university regulations.
The current case therefore raises a specific question about whether the university's statutory framework permits exceptional relief where a student falls short by only one mark.
Important: The case concerns the specific authority of the university and its Chancellor under the applicable rules. It should not be interpreted as a general rule that every MBBS student who misses passing marks by one mark will automatically receive a grace mark.
Key Highlights
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | Madhya Pradesh High Court |
| Student | Ramnaresh Kushwah |
| Course | MBBS |
| Year | First Year |
| College | Gajra Raja Medical College, Gwalior |
| University | Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University, Jabalpur |
| Issue | One-mark shortfall |
| Relief Sought | One grace mark |
| Court's Direction | Response regarding Chancellor's power |
| Hearing | Matter listed for further consideration |
Conclusion
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has sought clarification from the Chancellor of Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University regarding the authority to grant one grace mark to an MBBS student facing a potential loss of academic year.
The court's latest step seeks clarification under the applicable university provisions; it does not, at this stage, amount to an order granting the student the requested grace mark.
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