The Delhi High Court has stepped in to protect the academic future of a medical student whose MBBS admission was cancelled amid the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak investigation, despite him not being named as an accused. The court made it clear that mere suspicion or inclusion in an investigation list cannot justify ending a student’s career.
Justice Jasmeet Singh passed the order while allowing a writ petition filed by Harshit Agrawal, directing authorities to immediately permit him to continue his MBBS classes.
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Background of the Case
Harshit Agrawal cleared his Class 12 examination in 2022 and appeared for the NEET-UG 2024 exam conducted on May 5, 2024. When results were declared on June 4, he secured an All India Rank of 28,106. After a revised scorecard issued in July 2024 showed him scoring 651 out of 720, he obtained admission through counselling to Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital in Balangir, Odisha.
However, his academic journey was abruptly disrupted when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) issued summons to him in August 2024 as part of its probe into alleged NEET-UG question paper leaks. Soon after, the National Testing Agency (NTA) issued a show cause notice asking why he should not be debarred.
Despite submitting a reply, his NEET-UG result was withdrawn, and his MBBS admission was cancelled following directions issued by the National Medical Commission based on a list shared by the CBI.
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Agrawal approached the Delhi High Court arguing that his admission had been cancelled without any finding of guilt. He pointed out that another student named in the same list had been allowed to continue her studies by the Supreme Court, and sought similar relief.
His counsel stressed that participation in an investigation does not mean involvement in wrongdoing, and that the cancellation was arbitrary and devastating to his academic career.
Court’s Observations
During the hearing, the CBI made a crucial statement before the court. Its counsel confirmed that a charge sheet had already been filed in the NEET-UG case, and Harshit Agrawal was not named as an accused. He was listed only as a witness.
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This disclosure became central to the court’s reasoning.
Justice Jasmeet Singh noted that the sole basis for cancelling the admission was the allegation of malpractice. “Once it is admitted that the petitioner is not an accused, there can be no prima facie finding of wrongdoing,” the court observed.
The judge further stressed that Agrawal had secured admission through an open and merit-based process. “If such an admission is to be cancelled, there must be valid, genuine, and compelling reasons,” the bench said.
The court took a strong view on the broader implications of the decision taken by authorities. Justice Singh underlined that clearing a national entrance exam creates a valuable right that deserves protection.
“The action of cancelling admission disrupts the academic progress of the petitioner on totally unjustifiable grounds,” the court said, adding that while the right to professional education may not be explicitly listed as a fundamental right, the State has an affirmative obligation to protect it.
The bench cautioned against lightly curtailing a student’s opportunity to pursue higher education, especially when no guilt has been established.
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Final Decision
Allowing the writ petition, the Delhi High Court issued a writ of mandamus directing the concerned authorities to permit Harshit Agrawal to continue attending his MBBS classes in accordance with the prescribed curriculum.
With this, the petition was disposed of, bringing immediate relief to the student whose medical education had been put on hold solely due to unproven allegations.
Case Title: Harshit Agrawal v. National Testing Agency & Ors.
Case No.: W.P.(C) 12514/2025
Case Type: Writ Petition (Education / Service of Public Authorities)
Decision Date: 7 January 2026
