The court reaffirmed that candidates must be granted uninterrupted exam conditions, and compensatory marks should be awarded when interruptions occur due to administrative actions.

JUDGMENT :

VIKAS MAHAJAN, J.

1. The grievance articulated in the present petition is that the petitioner was subjected to interruptions and harassment mid-examination for re- verification of his identity credentials with respect to his Aadhaar, thereby leading to loss of crucial exam time while he was taking his National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate)–2025 Examination [NEET (UG) 2025]. The said exam was conducted by the respondent no.1/NTA on 04.05.2025 at the Examination Centre located in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, the venue provided by the respondent no.3.

2. The brief facts, as borne out from the petition, are that the petitioner had registered himself for appearing in NEET (UG) 2025, scheduled to be conducted on 04.05.2025. As part of the registration process, petitioner’s identity was authenticated through his Aadhaar Card which served as a mode of verification.

3. On 30.04.2025, the petitioner received his Admit Card – Provisional for NEET (UG) 2025 wherein the petitioner was allotted the test centre managed by the respondent no.3 in Meerut. The Admit Card further provided the reporting time at the Examination Centre as 11:00 AM, while the gate closing time was fixed at 01:30 PM sharp. The duration of the examination was 180 minutes starting from 02:00 PM to 05:00 PM. The set of instructions contained in the said Admit Card mentioned that candidates would not be allowed to enter the Examination Centre without the Admit Card, valid ID proof and proper frisking. The candidates were also advised to carry an updated copy of their Aadhaar Card.

4. It is stated in the petition that petitioner reached the allotted Examination Centre at the venue of respondent no.3 at 01:20 PM. At the entrance to examination hall, respondent no.3 was undertaking a detailed authentication process wherein the candidates were required to undergo verification of their Aadhaar details through biometric scanners followed by mandatory frisking, in accordance with the prescribed examination guidelines.

5. The petitioner claims that he noticed that the biometric verification was getting delayed due to some alleged technical snag. Without biometric verification, candidates were not allowed to proceed towards their respective examination halls.

6. However, in light of the technical snag in the biometric authentication process, officials of the respondents informed the candidates that in order to be permitted entry into the examination hall, the candidates would be required to submit an application addressed to the Centre Superintendent seeking permission to proceed.

7. It is averred in the petition that the petitioner finally managed to submit the requisite application by 01:55 PM, five minutes prior to the commencement of examination after which the petitioner was allowed to appear in the examination.

8. However, at approximately 03:30 PM, while the petitioner was writing his exam, he was asked by the officials of respondent nos.1 and 3 to undergo Aadhaar verification once again and re-submit the application in the prescribed format. Despite loss of precious exam time in the said process, no compensatory time beyond 05:00 PM was allowed.

9. Subsequently, on 07.05.2025, the petitioner addressed a detailed representation to respondent no.1 through email, wherein he narrated the sequence of events that transpired at the Examination Centre of respondent no.3 and prayed for grace marks to compensate for the time lost. In response to the petitioner’s representation, vide email communication dated 1