Delhi HC directs NTA to form redressal panel for candidates affected by technical faults

The Delhi High Court has instructed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to establish a dedicated committee to address complaints from candidates who lose time during competitive exams due to technical disruptions.

The order was issued by Justice Vikas Mahajan while hearing a petition from a NEET-UG aspirant who claimed his exam was interrupted for identity re-verification, resulting in a loss of crucial time.

The student alleged that biometric issues delayed his initial entry, and, during the test, he was again asked to leave the examination hall for verification, despite submitting documents in both English and Hindi. He also claimed that he was not given any extra time to compensate for the interruption.

Representing the NTA, advocate Sanjay Khanna argued that the candidate arrived 14 minutes after the exam process had started and that the delay stemmed from the candidate himself locking the biometric verification.

He added that the exam staff attempted verification three times and that re-verification during the test was standard procedure, which should not entitle the student to any advantage.

However, after reviewing CCTV footage to confirm the duration of the interruption, the court concluded that the candidate had lost 3 minutes and 32 seconds through no fault of his own.

"This court finds that the petitioner, having evidently suffered a loss of time amounting to 03 minutes and 32 seconds during the exam due to no fault of his own, deserves to be compensated," the court said.

In response, the court directed the NTA to award the student grace marks. It also criticized the conduct of the examination staff for disturbing the candidate during the test, particularly when he had already accepted responsibility for any discrepancies in biometric data.

Observing a broader issue, Justice Mahajan noted the recurrence of similar cases where candidates have lost exam time without any fault on their part. In a 23-page judgment, he emphasized the need for systemic redressal.

“This Court has come across a few individual cases where the candidates suffered loss of exam time for reasons not attributable to them. Constitutional courts cannot be expected to view CCTV footage, like in the present case, for each such candidate who has been prejudiced on account of loss of exam time for no fault of his,” said Justice Mahajan.

“Such cases ought to be examined by a body of experts in a transparent and fair manner, which would carry out the exercise undertaken by this court in the present case,” Justice Mahajan added.

The court ordered the NTA to form a standing Grievance Redressal Committee if one is not already operational.

“Accordingly, the respondent no. 1/NTA is directed to constitute a standing Grievance Redressal Committee for the said purpose, if not already in place, where aggrieved candidates may approach for redressal of their grievances,” the court said.

“The standing committee shall also be at liberty to devise a formula more suitable/appropriate for the examination in question,” the court added.