- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC:11338-DB WP No. 7606 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 19TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN AND THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE RAJESH RAI K WRIT PETITION NO. 7606 OF 2025 (EDN-RES) BETWEEN: DINESH NADURMATH S/O SHIVAMURTIYA C NADURMATH, AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS, R/O FLOT NO. H - 501, SHRIRAM SUHAANA APARTMENTS, DODDABALLAPURA MAIN ROAD, NAGENAHALLI POST, YELAHANKA - 560 064. …PETITIONER (BY MRS. AKKAMAHADEVI HIREMATH, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. UNION OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA SHASTRI BHAWAN, DR. RAJENDRA PRASAD ROAD, NEW DELHI - 110 001. 2. NATIONAL TESTING AGENCY (NTA) 1ST FLOOR, NSIC MDBP BUILDING, Digitally signed by MAYAGAIAH VINUTHA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC:11338-DB WP No. 7606 of 2025 OKHLA, INDUSTRIAL ESTATE NEW DELHI 110020 REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR. …RESPONDENTS (BY MR. H. SHANTHI BHUSHAN, DSGI) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO GRANT A WRIT OF MANDAMUS, DIRECTING THE 2ND RESPONDENT TO PERMIT THE PETITIONER TO UPLOAD THE ADDITIONAL DETAILS IN THE APPLICATION OF HIS DAUGHTER AARCHINI DINESH NADURMATH, HAVING NEET-UG-2025 REGISTER NO.250410383744 IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE SAID APPLICATION TO ENABLE HER TO APPEAR FOR THE NEET-UG- 2025, (PURSUANT TO ANNEXURE-B). THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN and HON'BLE MR JUSTICE RAJESH RAI K - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC:11338-DB WP No. 7606 of 2025 ORAL JUDGMENT (PER: HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN) This writ petition is filed seeking the following reliefs: "(a) A writ of mandamus, directing the 2nd Respondent to permit the Petitioner to upload the additional details in the Application of his daughter Aarchini Dinesh Nadurmath, having NEET-UG-2025 Register No.250410383744 in order to complete the said Application to enable her to appear for the NEET-UG-2025, (pursuant to Ann-B) in the interest of justice. (b) Such other writs or orders as this Hon'ble Court deems fit in the circumstances of the case." 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner as well as the learned DSGI appearing for the respondents. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner's daughter is an aspirant for the NEET (UG) 2025 and she is undergoing her studies in Deeksha CFL PU College. It is submitted that pursuant to Annexure-A Notification issued with regard to the NEET examination, the petitioner had created an account and registered the name of his daughter with the respondent No.2-portal on 14.02.2025. The registration process - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC:11338-DB WP No. 7606 of 2025 had been undertaken almost completely. However, it is submitted that inspite of repeated attempts, the signature could not be uploaded and the registration portal shown that the petitioner's daughter application was incomplete. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that only aspect which is lacking in the application form was the signature of the petitioner's daughter and that the application form was complete in all other aspects. It is submitted that there were technical issues and the petitioner was unable to upload the signature of his daughter on the online portal though multiple attempts had been made. It is submitted that thereafter, the petitioner came to know that notice had been given on 06.03.2025 to persons who had uploaded their online applications to correct errors in the said applications between 9th and 11th of March, 2025. It is submitted that since the petitioner's daughter application form was complete in all other aspects, the petitioner seeks an opportunity to upload the signature in the portal so that the petitioner's daughter application would also be complete. It is contended that since permission is being granted to the persons who have uploaded their applications incorrectly to correct their applications, the - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC:11338-DB WP No. 7606 of 2025 petitioner's daughter, whose application was complete in all other aspects, is also liable to be permitted to upload the signature so that her application will be liable to be considered. It is contended that it is only because of technical problems that the petitioner's daughter's application form could not be uploaded completely. 4. Learned DSGI appearing for the respondents submits that written instructions have been made available by respondent No.2 with regard to the matter and has placed a memo on record with the details of such instructions and the supporting documents. It is stated that the public notice dated 07.02.2025 clearly provides that the registration window would be open from 07.02.2025 to 07.03.2025 upto 11.50 p.m. and that the detailed instructions with regard to filling up of the applications had been provided in the information bulletin published in respect of the NEET (UG) 2025. It is submitted that the petitioner admittedly had not uploaded the completed application form as on 07.03.2025. It is submitted that the audit log of candidates login history was retrieved and it is stated that the registration form of the petitioner's daughter - 6 - NC: 2025:KHC:11338-DB WP No. 7606 of 2025 was filled up and the personal details and documents were uploaded on 14.02.2025 between 20.24 to 20.45 p.m. Thereafter, the candidate logged in on the web portal on 24.02.2025 and successfully uploaded documents i.e., passport size photograph, left and right hands fingers and thumb impressions and postcard size photo between 22.40 p.m. and 22.42 p.m. on 24.02.2025. It is submitted that after 24.02.2025, the candidates/petitioner has logged in on the web portal only on 10.03.2025, after closing of the registration window i.e., on 07.03.2025. It is submitted that the contention that the petitioner tried to upload the signature several times before 07.03.2025 is incorrect and the copy of the audit logs are made available before this Court. Further, it is contended that the NEET (UG) 2025 is conducted in thousand of centers across the Country and that the portal for uploading the application forms was closed on 07.03.2025 at 11.50 p.m. It is submitted that under no circumstances can there be a direction to open portal in respect of one candidate alone. It is submitted that if such permission is granted and the portal is opened, it would amount to opening of the pandora's box and create unforeseen complications apart from compromising the very - 7 - NC: 2025:KHC:11338-DB WP No. 7606 of 2025 security of the portal and the timelines fixed in respect of thousands of applicants. 5. We have considered the contentions advanced by the learned counsel for the parties. 6. We notice that the petitioner's daughter's online application form appears to have been uploaded in all respects except for the signature as is specifically stated by the learned counsel for the petitioner. However, it is clear that though the registration process was completed, the portal clearly showed that the application form is incomplete and the fee payment could not have been made since the application was shown as incomplete. It is also admitted fact that time for uploading the application form was expired at 11.50 p.m. on 07.03.2025. 7. In the above factual circumstances, we are opinion that the prayer made seeking opening of the portal for uploading of the signature of the petitioner's daughter cannot be granted by this Court in view of the fact that the portal stands closed for all candidates on 07.03.2025. We are not going into any of the other aspects of the matter. The fact that - 8 - NC: 2025:KHC:11338-DB WP No. 7606 of 2025 correction of details in applications already submitted had been permitted cannot be a reason to contend that a person who failed to upload a completed application before the time provided is to be permitted to upload such application long thereafter. 8. The writ petition fails and is accordingly dismissed. SD/- (ANU SIVARAMAN) JUDGE SD/- (RAJESH RAI K) JUDGE VM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 27