Delhi HC Flags Biometric Glitch in NEET-UG, Seeks NTA’s Stand Before Counselling Begins

The Delhi High Court has asked the National Testing Agency (NTA) to respond to a NEET-UG 2025 candidate’s plea seeking compensatory marks, citing mental distress caused by a faulty biometric verification process at the exam centre. The candidate, who appeared for the exam on May 4 in Meerut, claimed he was allowed into the hall just five minutes before the test began and was later pulled out mid-exam for re-verification—twice.

 

Key highlights:

 

- The candidate alleges the biometric system failed during initial verification, delaying his entry.

- He was asked to submit handwritten applications in both English and Hindi to gain access.

- During the exam, he was again interrupted for biometric re-verification, which he says disrupted his focus.

- The petitioner scored 98.86 percentile and is seeking compensatory marks.

- The court has directed the NTA to preserve CCTV footage, logbooks, and other records from the centre.

 

Justice Prathiba M Singh issued the notice on June 20 and scheduled the next hearing for June 27, just days before NEET counselling is expected to begin on July 1. The candidate’s counsel also cited a Supreme Court precedent to support the plea for compensatory marks.

 

The court’s intervention comes amid growing scrutiny of exam conduct and fairness, especially in high-stakes tests like NEET. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how technical glitches are handled in future entrance exams.

 

Sources: The Hindu, News18, The New Indian Express