VISHWANATH KUMAR Vs. NATIONAL TESTING AGENCY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) As per Sec. 14 of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-UG ["NEET (UG)"] has to be conducted as a common and uniform test for admission to undergraduate medical courses in all medical institutions, including those governed under any other law in force. The NEET UG 2022 examination for admission to undergraduate medical courses in all medical institutions in India is scheduled for 17/7/2022. Scarcely three days before the exam, some aspirants desire that the said exam be rescheduled after 4-6 weeks.

(2.) The extraordinary writ jurisdiction of this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, 1950 has been invoked seeking the following reliefs:

(3.) Respondent No. 1 - National Testing Agency ("NTA"), vide Public Notice dtd. 6/4/2022 [hereinafter, "Notice"], invited applications for NEET UG 2022 examination for admission into various undergraduate medical courses in institutions across India, and declared the date for NEET UG 2022 examination. Several aspirants (including some of the Petitioners herein) made written representations to the Director General of NTA as well as Hon'ble Prime Minister, Health Minister and Education Minister, addressing several issues qua timelines for NEET UG 2022 examination declared in the Notice and inter alia prayed for postponement of the same for a minimum period of six weeks, stating that date of NEET UG 2022 examination is proximate to/ coinciding with other national level entrance examinations (including JEE 2022, CUET 2022, EAMCET 2022) for admission into various undergraduate courses. Several other such representations seeking similar reliefs were also made by other interested parties; however, no action was taken thereon. Aggrieved by the inaction of Respondent-authorities, Petitioners have approached this Court praying for the afore-mentioned reliefs.