Reports revealed that all 262 candidates were mandated to undergo the COVID tests as the event was supposedly be presided over by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palanisami.

While the 18 candidates who received their admission card directly from the Chief Minister were tested negative, eight other candidates were tested positive, though they were asymptomatic.

The counselling was held at Jawaharlal Nehru Outdoor Stadium on Wednesday from 9 am.

Meanwhile, Health Minister C Vijay Baskar stated that there were various committees formed to ensure smooth counselling process, and that these will verify the nativity certificates, the community certificates and the mark-sheets of the students on the day of counselling itself. For transparency, the ranks were displayed on an LED screen at the centre.