Court relaxes procedural requirements for petitioners who lost their scorecards, directs NTA to issue duplicates within seven days and allows NEFT payment and simplified documents in view of urgent exam deadlines.
In a significant relief to foreign medical graduates, the Delhi High Court has directed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to issue duplicate NEET-UG scorecards to petitioners who had misplaced or lost their original documents and were unable to complete their applications for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE).
Justice Jasmeet Singh passed the order while hearing a batch of petitions filed by medical graduates seeking urgent release of their NEET-UG scorecards so they could appear in the FMGE scheduled for 31 October 2026. The court noted that the petitioners’ application forms were incomplete because they did not have their scorecards, and the deadline for submitting FMGE applications was very close.
The court took note of the NTA’s public notice and office memorandum dated 17 September 2026, which laid down the procedure for issuance of duplicate scorecards. However, considering the imminent deadline and the career implications for the petitioners, the court held that strict compliance with every formality would not be appropriate in the present case.
The NTA informed the court that it was not insisting on the requirement of filing a police report, FIR, DDR or NCR in cases of loss, and also waived the requirement that passport-size photographs be attested by a Gazetted Officer or Head of Institution. Accepting this position, the court further relaxed the procedure for the petitioners and directed that they need submit only a limited set of documents. These include the prescribed application form, a self-attested affidavit explaining the loss of the scorecard, photographs, self-attested identity proof, a statement regarding the availability of the admit card or registration slip, proof of payment of fee, and a self-attested indemnity-cum-affidavit. The court also dispensed with the requirement of stamp paper.
In another important relaxation, the court permitted the petitioners to pay the duplicate scorecard fee through NEFT instead of the demand draft required under the office memorandum. The NTA gave the bank details during the hearing, and the court directed that proof of NEFT payment be attached with the application.
The court further allowed the petitioners to apply through the NTA portal as well as by email to result@nta.gov.in. It also held that a simple letter from each petitioner stating their desire to appear in the FMGE on 31 October 2026 would be treated by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) as sufficient compliance and a valid application form. Any remaining deficiencies were permitted to be cured by 21 October 2026, till 11:55 p.m.
The court directed that complete applications be submitted to the NTA within seven days, and that the duplicate scorecards be generated within seven days thereafter. At the same time, the court clarified that the relaxation granted would apply only to the petitioners in these cases and that the office memorandum dated 17 September 2026 would continue to govern future applications in accordance with law.
The petitions were accordingly disposed of.
Bottom Line :
Education/Examination - Petitioners seeking duplicate NEET-UG scorecards for appearing in FMGE - In view of imminent last date and career implications, Court relaxed procedural requirements under NTA office memorandum for present petitioners, permitted self-attested documents and NEFT payment, and directed NTA to generate scorecards within 7 days of receipt of complete applications.
Statutory provision(s): National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) guidelines, Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) procedures, NTA Office Memorandum dated 17.09.2026
Ayush Kumar v. National Testing Agency, (Delhi) : Law Finder Doc id # 2987639
