Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Delhi High Court Rejects NEET-UG OMR Tampering Claims, Dismisses PIL
The case was about students who were unhappy with parts of the NEET-UG examination.
One student said her answer sheet may have been changed.
The Solicitor General said no OMR sheet had been tampered with.
He said the problem appeared to involve a difference between rough work and the answer actually marked.
The students also wanted marks for certain questions that had been dropped.
They asked for changes to the National Testing Agency.
The Delhi High Court said the petition mixed personal requests with requests for all students.
The court dismissed the petition but allowed separate cases to be filed about the individual allegation and wider examination reforms.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta denied any tampering with NEET-UG re-test OMR sheets.
A petitioner alleged her OMR sheet had been manipulated and sought judicial review.
The petitioners also requested marks for dropped questions and reforms to the National Testing Agency.
The Delhi High Court said the PIL combined individual and broader candidate-related prayers that could not be entertained together.
The petition was dismissed as withdrawn, with liberty for separate pleas on OMR tampering and examination reforms.
- Who
- Two NEET-UG candidates filed the petition; Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed the tampering claims before a bench of the Delhi High Court.
- What
- The Delhi High Court dismissed a PIL seeking additional marks, examination reforms, and action over alleged NEET-UG re-test OMR tampering.
- When
- The hearing took place on Wednesday; the article does not specify the date.
- Where
- The Delhi High Court in New Delhi.
- Why
- The petitioners raised concerns about dropped questions, alleged OMR-sheet tampering, and reforms to the National Testing Agency.
Petitioners' Claims
Government and Court Response
Alleged OMR tampering
Petitioners' Claims
One petitioner alleged that her OMR sheet had been tampered with, while counsel said the issue affected thousands of candidates.
Government and Court Response
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta rejected the allegation, saying there was no tampering and that the case appeared to involve a mismatch between rough work and the answer marked on the OMR sheet.
Relief for other candidates
Petitioners' Claims
The petitioners sought additional marks for themselves and similarly affected candidates over certain dropped questions.
Government and Court Response
The court said a writ petition combining individual relief with relief for all other candidates could not be entertained as filed.
Examination-system reforms
Petitioners' Claims
The petitioners sought an expert committee and action concerning alleged irregularities, including reforms to the National Testing Agency.
Government and Court Response
The court dismissed the combined petition but allowed one petitioner to file a separate PIL focused on institutional reforms in public examinations.
- Court
- Delhi High Court
- Case type
- Public interest litigation filed by two NEET-UG candidates
- Government position
- Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said there was no tampering with any re-test OMR sheet.
- Petitioners' requests
- Additional marks for certain dropped questions, relief for similarly affected candidates, and reforms or scrapping of the National Testing Agency.
- Court's reasoning
- The PIL combined prayers for individual relief with requests concerning other candidates.
- Outcome
- The petition was dismissed as withdrawn.
- Further options
- One petitioner received liberty to file a separate PIL on institutional reforms; the other could file a plea on alleged OMR tampering.