NEET UG Candidate Seeks Compensatory Marks
The direction was issued by Justice Vikas Mahajan on Monday in response to a plea filed by a NEET UG candidate. The candidate requested compensatory marks in the medical entrance exam, stating that he faced interruptions and harassment mid-examination for re-verification of his identity credentials.
Technical Glitches and Delay in Biometric Verification
The candidate’s petition highlighted technical glitches in the biometric verification process that caused a delay in his entry to the exam hall. Despite submitting applications in English and Hindi, he was asked to step out for biometric verification again during the exam. This led to a loss of time, but the examination authorities did not provide compensatory time.
Opposition by NTA
The National Testing Agency (NTA), represented by advocate Sanjay Khanna, opposed the petition. They mentioned that the candidate arrived 14 minutes late for the exam. The NTA clarified that the glitch occurred because the candidate had locked the biometric verification, making it impossible to complete despite three attempts.
Court’s Decision and Grace Marks
After reviewing CCTV footage to determine the lost time, the court instructed the NTA to award the candidate grace marks. It was observed that interrupting the candidate during the exam, especially after he took responsibility for the biometric discrepancies, was unjustified.
Setting Up Grievance Redressal Committee
Justice Mahajan, in a 23-page order, directed the NTA to establish a committee to address cases where candidates suffer exam time loss due to reasons beyond their control. The court emphasized the need for a transparent and fair mechanism to handle such grievances and devise a suitable formula for future examinations.
Stay tuned for more updates
