JEE-Main: Delhi High Court Orders CFSL Probe In Plea Alleging Manipulation Of Score Cards

The Delhi High Court has ordered investigation by Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), CBI, in a petition filed by two candidates alleging manipulation of their score cards in JEE (Main)-2025.

Justice Vikas Mahajan directed the candidates to furnish their respective registered e- mail IDs to the Registry for verification by the CFSL.

The Court requested the Director of CFSL to expedite the investigation and furnish a report in a sealed cover on or before May 22, in view of the urgency since the result of JEE (Advanced)-2025 will be declared on June 02.

“Needless to say, that any finding, or information received during the period of investigation, shall not be disclosed by the CFSL, New Delhi to any of the parties as the same might be of sensitive nature,” the Court said.

The candidates alleged that their final score card in respect of Session I of JEE Main examination was manipulated.

It was submitted that the score cards downloaded initially were no more available on the website of NTA, instead the allegedly manipulated score cards with incorrect scores were uploaded.

The counsel for the NTA submitter that there was no manipulation in the score card and that the score cards were also sent through e-mails to both the candidates. It was further contended that it was the NIC which uploaded the score cards. The Court was informed that NIC had certified that there was no manipulation in the score cards as well as the response sheets.

Noting that both the parties were ad idem that to find out the truth of the matter, the Court said that it was imperative to refer the matter to the experts.

The Court directed the CFSL to investigate the following aspects:

- Whether the original score cards and the response sheet relied upon by the petitioners, which were downloaded by them on their respective systems (laptops), were so downloaded from the official website of the NTA?

- Are there any traces of tampering (like metadata alterations, edits or inconsistencies in timestamps, author, source etc.) in the digital documents after the same were downloaded in the aforementioned laptops?

- Whether the e-mail containing the score cards of the candidates stated to be forwarded by the NTA on 12.02.2025 and 13.02.2025 after declaration of results of JEE (Main) Session I, 2025 were received and accessed by the candidates from their registered e- mail addresses?

- Any other information/inputs that is useful to decide the controversy articulated above?

The Court said in case the CFSL requires any material, information or assistance, it may contact the petitioner candidates on their mobile numbers.

Furthermore, the Court noted that one of the petitioners was eligible for JEE (Advanced) on the basis of the percentile in the disputed score card.

Noting that the last date for making an application for JEE (Advanced) was May 02, the Court permitted the candidate to register his application for JEE (Advanced) and ordered that the same be processed.

“It is clarified that the interim directions given hereinabove shall be subject to the outcome of the present writ petition and the same shall not create any special equities in favour of petitioner no.2. It is further directed that the result of petitioner no.2 in JEE (Advanced) will not be declared and the same will be placed before this Court in a sealed cover,” the Court said.

The matter will now be heard on May 23.

Title: ANUSHA GUPTA & ORS v. NATIONAL TESTING AGENCY (THROUGH THE DIRECTOR) & ORS.

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 560

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