$~130 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 8007/2026 & CM APPL. 38386/2026 GURPREET SINGH ....Petitioner Through: Mr. Amarjeet Singh Sahni along with Mr. Amanpreet Singh, Mr. Ekam Sahni, Ms. Sneha, Advs. versus UNION OF INDIA & ANR .....Respondents Through: Ms. Avshreya Pratap Singh Rudy, Adv. (CGSC) Ms. Usha Jamnal, Adv. Ms. Nyasa Sharma, Adv. ⁠Mr. Ankit Khatri, Adv for R1 Mr. Sanjay Khanna, SC for R2 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASMEET SINGH O R D E R % 29.05.2026 1. This is a writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following prayer(s) :- “a) Pass a Writ of Mandamus or any other writ/order/directions thereby directing the respondents to grant an opportunity to Arshpreet Singh Sawhney (son of the petitioner) to participate in Common University Entrance Test (UG)-2026 for subjects - English (language), Business Studies (Domain) & Economic/Business Economics (domain) in any city/examination centre on any date, in the interest of justice;…” 2. For the reasons stated in the petition, issue notice. 3. Ms. Rudy, learned standing counsel accepts notice on behalf of respondent No. 1 and Mr. Khanna, learned standing counsel accepts This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 01/06/2026 at 12:24:18 notice on behalf of respondent No. 2/NTA. 4. The brief facts of the present case are that the son of the petitioner applied for participation in Common University Entrance Test for Undergraduate Programmes (“CUET”) and was issued an admit card with Roll No. RJ070601326. The examination date for subjects of English (Language) Business Studies (Domain) and Economics/Business Economics (Domain) was 11.05.2026 at Centre RJ0711, ION Digital Zone, iDZ Sitapura 1, Gate No.1, SP-I013 bi, 3rd Phase, Industrial Area, Sitapura, Jaipur, Rajasthan and for other subjects i.e., Accountancy/Book Keeping (Domain) and Mathematics/applied mathematics (domain) was 19.5.2026 at Centre RJ0711 Alankar Mahila PG Mahavidyalaya Kataria Agri Farm, Sirsi Road, Jaipur (Rajasthan). 5. My attention has been drawn to the fact that in total 15,68,866 candidates registered for the CUET, out of which 96.6% candidates have been allotted one of their preferred cities and 79% have been allotted their first choice of city. Only the remaining 3.4% of candidates, who could not be accommodated within their selected preference due to capacity constraints in high demand locations, were allowed to choose from vacant lots in alternate cities through re- allocation window opened by the respondent No. 2 on 05.05.2026 on a first come first service basis at their website. 6. The son of the petitioner fell in this 3.4% category and applied for change of examination centre from Jaipur to Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh and for change of date from 11.05.2026 to 19.05.2026 and from 19.05.2026 to 25.05.2026. This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 01/06/2026 at 12:24:18 7. It is the case of the petitioner that the son of the petitioner downloaded the admit card on 16.05.2026, wherein it was seen that the examination centre was changed to Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh for both the examinations but the date of examination for three subjects held on 11.05.2026 was not changed as per his request made during the re-allocation window. 8. For the said reasons, the son of the petitioner appeared in the examination on 19.05.2026 but could not appear in the examination of three subjects conducted on 11.05.2026. 9. The son of the petitioner could not participate in the three examinations held on 11.05.2026 as he was under a bona fide impression that the same has been postponed to 19.05.2026. Hence, the present petition has been filed. 10. Mr. Khanna, learned standing counsel for the respondent No. 2/NTA, opposes the petition on the ground that the date of issue on the admit card is 09.05.2026 and the son of the petitioner was fully aware of the fact that the examination is scheduled to be conducted on 11.05.2026. 11. He further relies on the judgment of Sadhana Yadav v. Union of India, 2025 SCC OnLine Del 4279 and more particularly on paragraph Nos. 16 to 22 of the said judgment which reads as under: “16. However, while bearing in mind the factors addressed by the learned Counsels for the parties, the Court cannot lose sight of the discipline that is required to be maintained in the conduct of such examinations. The conduct of examinations has a sanctity attached to it and it is common knowledge that owing to the conditions generally relating to This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 01/06/2026 at 12:24:18 any unforeseen circumstances including transportation, traffic, etc. candidates may reach late. Therefore, the information bulletin dated 1-3-2025, published by the NTA and the admit card issued to the candidates gave very specific instructions in Clause 8.1 and 8.2 of the information bulletin read as under: “8.1. Candidates are advised to report at the Examination Centre well in time i.e. 02 hours before the commencement of the examination. 8.2. Candidates should take their seats immediately after the opening of the Examination Hall. If the candidates do not report in time due to any reason i.e. traffic jam, train/bus delay, etc. they are likely to miss some of the important instructions to be announced in the Examination Rooms/Halls. The NTA shall not be responsible for any delay.” 17. The above stated clauses, stipulate that candidates have to report in time i.e. two hours before the commencement of examination which in this case would be 7 a.m. The NTA is conscious of the fact that students could be coming from far- off places and thus, a sufficient margin is provided by opening the gates at 7 a.m. itself i.e. two hours before the examination. Apart from the general stipulation, Clause 8.2 also specifically cautions candidates that there could be traffic jams, train/bus delays, etc. which may prevent them from reaching in time. Candidates are asked to take their This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 01/06/2026 at 12:24:18 seats when the Examination hall opens at 7 a.m. When read with the instructions stipulated in the admit card it is clear that there is no conflict whatsoever. The opening time of the gate of the examination centre is 7:00 a.m. for an exam which is to be held at 9:00 a.m. The candidates are expected to enter the examination hall and take their seat before the examination commences. This would, however, not mean that the candidate can enter at his or her own volition and timing. The admit card is clear to the effect that the gate opening time i.e. reporting entry time at the centre is 7:00 a.m. and the gate closing time is 8:30 a.m. Between 7:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., whenever the candidate enters, the candidate shall be permitted to take his or her seat in the examination hall. 18. Thus, in the opinion of this Court, Clause 8.2 of the information bulletin does not appear to be in conflict with the instructions in the admit card and the argument to that effect would not be tenable. 19. The Court at first blush may be persuaded to take a sympathetic view in these kinds of matters, as the career of a young girl who is on the verge of entering higher studies could be jeopardised. However, the same would not be sufficient by itself to give directions to the NTA, which has a great responsibility of smooth and peaceful conduct of examinations for more than 13.54 lakhs students, while This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 01/06/2026 at 12:24:18 maintaining discipline and also ensuring that the same is uniformly enforced across the country. 20. There may be hundreds of students, who may have reached the examination centres late and an exception cannot be created in favour of the appellant. Moreover, there are only three-four days of the exams which are left now, and in such circumstances, the NTA cannot be expected to now create a separate schedule or slot for the appellant to enable her to take the examinations in the specific subjects which she missed out on 13-5-2025. 21.The CUET is an important entrance examination and the discipline in arriving at the examination hall in time, taking the seat in time and being at the centre before the gate closing time, are all part of the discipline and ethos of the examination ecosystem which ought not to be relaxed, inasmuch as, the same may lead to huge inequities between similarly placed students. One may actually feel that nothing would have happened had the student been given entry as she was only six minutes late. If the said decision to let her in was taken by the Invigilator or Supervisor concerned, on the spot, it would have been fine. However, the authorities cannot be blamed for enforcing the rule of gate closing timings strictly. 22.Coming to the argument made by the appellant that there would be discrimination as there may not be uniform This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 01/06/2026 at 12:24:18 implementation of the instructions in the admit card as also the information bulletin, such discrimination cannot be considered as a valid ground to interfere, inasmuch as, all students who violate the gate closing time, would be acting contrary to the instructions. Article 14 of the Constitution cannot be applied to compare persons violating the rules of the examination.” 12. Mr. Khanna, further states that as per press release/public notice dated 06.05.2026, the date of examination cannot be changed. The said notice clearly states that on the basis of unavoidable logistical reasons, only change in examination state/city shall be considered and other changes like date/shift will not be entertained. Thus, the originally allotted date and shift would remain unchanged. 13. My attention has been drawn to a public notice of 27.05.2026 wherein the affected candidates whose examinations were scheduled on 28.05.2026 are permitted to participate in the rescheduled examinations to be held on 31.05.2026 and 06/07.06.2026. 14. Since the son of the petitioner is a meritorious student who has represented the country at prestigious events in the discipline of chess at national and international level, and was under a bona fide impression that the examination dates had been rescheduled, I am of the considered view that the future of a young student should not be jeopardized at this crucial stage of his academic career on the basis of technical considerations. Accordingly, the respondent No. 2 is requested to consider the case of the son of the petitioner compassionately and, if feasible, make necessary arrangements to This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 01/06/2026 at 12:24:18 accommodate the son of the petitioner in the examinations scheduled on 06/07.06.2026 at any centre. 15. The decision shall be communicated to the petitioner, expeditiously on or before 03.06.2026. 16. With these directions the petition is disposed of. 17. Dasti JASMEET SINGH, J MAY 29, 2026/SP/AS This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 01/06/2026 at 12:24:18