The Delhi High Court has directed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to declare the Re-NEET (UG) 2026 results of two petitioners within 24 hours, holding that their results could not remain withheld merely on the basis of allegations that were yet to be tested in accordance with law.
Justice Jasmeet Singh passed the order on August 24, 2026, while hearing a petition concerning the withholding of the petitioners’ NEET results.
Background of the Case
The petitioners had appeared for NEET (UG) 2026 conducted on May 3, 2026. Following allegations of a question-paper leak, the examination was cancelled and the petitioners subsequently appeared in the Re-NEET examination.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which investigated the alleged paper leak, later filed a charge-sheet in which the petitioners were named as witnesses and not accused. Despite this, the NTA issued show-cause notices to them on July 5, 2026, and withheld their Re-NEET results.
The petitioners approached the High Court seeking release of their results and permission to participate in the ongoing counselling process.
Court’s Observation
The Court noted that the petitioners had not been made accused in the CBI charge-sheet.
“At this stage, therefore, the petitioners cannot be treated as persons against whom criminal culpability has been established or as having been found guilty of any illegality.”
Justice Jasmeet Singh further observed that the allegations in the charge-sheet had not yet been tested through evidence and that no final conclusion could therefore be drawn regarding the petitioners’ culpability.
The Court also considered the impact of withholding the results on the students’ academic careers. It found that keeping their results withheld at this stage could cause serious prejudice, particularly because participation in counselling could affect their opportunity to secure admission.
“To deny the petitioners an opportunity to participate in the counselling process at this stage may result in consequences which cannot subsequently be adequately remedied.”
Decision
Finding that the petitioners had made out a prima facie case and that the balance of convenience was in their favour, the Court directed the NTA to declare their results within 24 hours of uploading the order.
The petitioners were also permitted to participate in further rounds of counselling on the basis of their declared results, subject to meeting the applicable eligibility criteria. Those whose counselling results had not yet been declared were permitted to apply offline.
The Court clarified that its order would not prevent the respondents from proceeding against the petitioners in accordance with law, if warranted. The application was accordingly disposed of.
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