IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision: 28.10.2025 BHOOMI DAHIYA ... PETITIONER VS.

UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS .. RESPONDENTS CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ASHWANI KUMAR MISHRA HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ROHIT KAPOOR Present: Mr. Anil Ghanghas, Advocate, for the petitioner.

Mr. Anil Chawla, Sr. Panel Counsel for respondents No.1 to 3.

Mr. Arun Gosian, Advocate for respondent No.4.

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ROHIT KAPOOR , J.

1. The present writ petition has been filed for setting aside the impugned criteria contained in the brochure (Annexure P/1), for admission in B.Tech. Programme, being run by respondent No.3-National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, which provides for filling up the left-over/vacant seats by way of on-spot counselling, only on the basis of the marks obtained in the 12^th standard, by ignoring the marks in NEET/JEE/CUET (hereinafter referred to as the ‘NTA Exams). Further prayer has been made for directing the respondents to fill the left-over/vacant seats only in accordance with the marks/rank obtained by the candidates in the NTA Exams and to admit the petitioner on the basis of her merit, accordingly.

2. Shorn of unnecessary details, brief