Kolkata, July 31 -- The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Friday informed the Calcutta High Court that it would initiate proceedings to debar a NEET-UG 2026 candidate for three years under the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, after the court found prima facie evidence that forged OMR sheets had been placed on record.
The candidate had moved the High Court alleging discrepancies in her NEET-UG evaluation, claiming the NTA had issued multiple OMR sheets and scorecards carrying different marks for the same examination.
During the hearing, however, the NTA submitted that the documents relied upon by the petitioner related to the 2025 NEET examination, not the 2026 test. It further argued that the OMR sheets filed before the court had been altered and did not match the official records.
Justice Amrita Sinha observed that there was a prima facie attempt to mislead both the examination authority and the court. The judge remarked that such conduct was "highly improper" and warned that action for forgery could follow.
While refraining from imposing costs on the petitioner, the court recorded that the authorities were free to proceed against the candidate in accordance with law.
Appearing for the NTA, counsel submitted that the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, provides for a three-year debarment in such cases.
The agency also referred to an FIR registered in another case under the Act and cited a similar ruling of the Chhattisgarh High Court in support of its submissions.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.