$~94 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 981/2026 & CM APPL. 4748/2026 SHLOK BHARDWAJ ....Petitioner Through: Petitioner-In-Person versus UNION OF INDIA & ANR .....Respondents Through: Ms. Avshreya Pratap Singh Rudy, Adv. ,CGSC with ⁠Mr. Ankit Khatri, Ms. Usha Jamnal, Ms. Nyasa Sharma, Advs.

Mr. Sanjay Khanna, Ms. Pragya Bhushan, Ms.

Vilakshana Dayma, Ms. Anshu Kumari, Advs. for NTA CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASMEET SINGH

O R D E R

% 27.01.2026

1. This is a writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India read with Section 151 of the CPC, 1908 seeking the following relief:

“(A) Issue appropriate writ/ direction/ order to Respondents to permit candidate Shivanjali Bhardwaj (Roll no. UP090100390 and Application no. 260310097331) to REAPPEAR in JEE Engineering Entrance Exam Session-I (preferably afternoon shift) which shall continue till 28.01.2026…”

2. When the matter came up for hearing on 22.01.2026, the learned Standing Counsel for the respondent No. 1 was requested to obtain instructions from respondent No. 2 regarding the averments made in the petition.

3. The brief facts of the case are that while appearing for the JEE Engineering Entrance Examination, the petitioner’s daughter’s Aadhaar verification could not be completed at the examination centre despite her reporting on time. Owing to the failure of the verification process, her Aadhaar remained blocked for a considerable period, causing her severe mental stress and anxiety. The verification process was successfully completed only midway through the examination. It is further stated by the petitioner that several other candidates seated in the same examination room, i.e., Room B-4, faced an identical issue.

4. Mr. Khanna, learned standing counsel appearing for the respondent No. 2 has handed over a copy of the minutes of the Grievance Redressal Committee where it has been stated as under:

“Minutes of the Meeting (First Case)

A Grievance Redressal Meeting was held on 24 January 2026 at 11:00 AM at NTA office to hear the case regarding alleged disturbance during examination and biometric authentication process. The following members of the Grievance Redressal Committee and the Father of the candidate were present in the meeting:

Committee Members

1. Prof. V.K. Jain, Former Vice Chancellor-Chairman

2. Prof. G.B Reddy, (Retired), IIT Delhi

3. Prof. H.C Gupta, Senior Advisor, NTA Complainant/ Petitioner:

1. Sh. Shlok Bhardwaj Father of the Candidate (Petitioner)

Agencies:

1. TCS Team 2. E&Y Team The father of the candidate submitted before the committee that:

1. The candidate reported repeated biometric authentication attempts by examination functionaries leading to disturbance during the examination, which, according to him, adversely affected the candidate's performance.

2. The candidate was disturbed multiple times during the examination for biometric verification and handprint authentication.

3. The candidate arrived at the examination centre at approximately 07:15-07:20 AM and was present at the biometric verification area. Initial biometric attempts were made but due to failure of biometric process candidates were made so many attempts for verification.

Some Video Evidences were Placed Before the Committee and the father of the Petitioner. The Committee was shown CCTV footage from multiple time stamps, beginning from the candidate's entry at the examination centre at around

07:20 AM. The footage demonstrated that:

Initial biometric verification attempts occurred before the commencement of the examination.

The candidate was seated at her desk by 08:53 AM, prior to the start of the examination.

No interruption or disturbance to the candidate was observed during the examination period until approximately

10:34 AM.

At 10:34 AM, the invigilator approached the candidate once for additional biometric authentication. The interaction lasted less than one minute, as per CCTV footage timestamps. No repeated or prolonged interaction between the invigilator and the candidat