Allahabad High Court Denies Re-Examination for JEE Main Candidates Delayed by Traffic Jam

In a recent ruling, the Allahabad High Court dismissed a plea from Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2025 candidates who sought a re-examination after being delayed by a traffic jam caused by the passage of the Chief Minister's convoy. The petitioners argued that the congestion led to their late arrival at the examination centre, resulting in their exclusion from the test. However, the court found no legal grounds to grant their request.

The petitioners were assigned the second shift of the examination on April 2, 2025, scheduled from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. They claimed that around 1:30 PM, the Chief Minister's convoy passed through the area, causing a traffic halt for approximately 30 minutes. Despite the roads reopening, heavy congestion persisted, preventing them from reaching the centre by the 2:30 PM gate-closing time. Consequently, they arrived at 2:35 PM and were denied entry. Their subsequent attempts to contact the National Testing Agency (NTA) for permission to take the exam were unsuccessful.

Represented by Advocate Sabir Ali, the petitioners sought permission to appear for the examination on any date between April 4 and April 8, 2025. They contended that the delay was beyond their control and requested judicial intervention to allow them to take the test on an alternative date.

However, the bench, comprising Justice Jaspreet Singh, rejected their plea. The court acknowledged the petitioners' right to appear for the examination but emphasized that this right was subject to the guidelines set by the NTA. The bench noted that the NTA's instructions clearly advised candidates to arrive at the examination centre at least two hours before the scheduled time. The court observed that the petitioners' failure to adhere to these instructions, leading to their late arrival, did not constitute a legal violation warranting judicial intervention.

The bench further clarified that while the petitioners had a legal right to appear for the examination, this right was conditional upon compliance with the established procedures. The court concluded that the petitioners could not seek re-examination due to their late arrival caused by the traffic jam, as there was no legal obligation on the part of the NTA to accommodate them under such circumstances.

This decision underscores the judiciary's stance on adhering to established examination protocols and the limitations of judicial intervention in administrative matters. It highlights the importance of candidates following the guidelines set by examination authorities to ensure their participation in such competitive tests.