Delhi High Court orders preservation of NEET UG candidate's original OMR answer sheet

• A NEET-UG candidate moved the Delhi High Court alleging his score changed thrice in 24 hours on the NTA portal.
• The candidate sought production of his original OMR answer sheet, not re-evaluation of his answers.
• NTA officials showed him an OMR sheet on a computer screen, but he objected, claiming it was not the original document.
• The case highlights the importance of preserving physical records in the face of digital discrepancies.

The candidate has clarified that he is not seeking re-evaluation of his answers. Instead, he has sought directions to preserve and produce the original physical OMR sheet filled by him, along with the connected digital records, so that an accurate assessment can be made.

A NEET-UG 2026 aspirant has taken the Delhi High Court to task over a bizarre incident involving his score on the National Testing Agency's (NTA) portal. According to the petition, the candidate's score changed thrice within 24 hours of the result being declared on July 16. Initially, it showed as 650 marks, only to drop to 500 marks after logging in again, and then plummet further to 135 marks the next day.

The candidate's petition highlights a critical issue in the realm of electronic records and their preservation. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has been using digital platforms for conducting exams, but this incident raises questions about the reliability of such systems. In India, the Right to Information Act (RTI) allows citizens to access government records, including those related to educational institutions. However, the NTA's handling of the candidate's query suggests a lack of transparency in record-keeping and retrieval.

This development underscores the importance of preserving physical records in the face of digital discrepancies. As exams become increasingly digitized, it is crucial for educational institutions and testing agencies to maintain accurate and reliable electronic records. The candidate's case serves as a precedent for future litigants seeking to challenge scores or results. Lawyers advising clients on NEET or other high-stakes exams should be aware of this potential compliance exposure and advocate for the preservation of physical records.

This development highlights the importance of preserving physical records in the face of digital discrepancies, and lawyers advising clients on NEET or other high-stakes exams should be aware of this potential compliance exposure.

Source: Original reporting via [Source]