No Extension for NEET 2020 Application Form: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court has turned down a petition for extension in NEET 2020 application window, bringing the speculation of a second chance to apply for this year’s exam to an end.

The Delhi High Court has ruled against the plea of a student seeking extension in the last date to apply for NEET 2020. This student was unable to apply for the examination due to her father’s illness. While pleading for an extension in the NEET 2020 application window, the student had submitted the medical records of her father, as evidence to support the claim.

The petition was supported by two major extensions provided by NTA in the past weeks, the extension of NEET 2020 correction window, and, the extension in the last date to apply for JEE (Main) 2020. However, the court feels that any extension in the application window will disrupt the entire schedule of the examination, which is now scheduled to be held on July 26.

The ruling by Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva read “the extension of date for correction of particulars for NEET (UG)-2020 was granted in view of the hardships faced by the aspirants due to COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown issued by the Government…the last date for submission of the online application form as 31.12.2019 which was then extended to 06.01.2020. On 06.01.2020 there was no lockdown or pandemic of COVID-19 declared in the country.”

Clarifying why the extension of the JEE (Main) application window is justified, the court said “representations were received by National Testing Agency from various Indian students who were scheduled to join colleges abroad that because of the changed circumstances arising out of COVID-19 they were keen to pursue their studies in India…There is a rationale behind the National Testing Agency modifying the schedule for JEE (Main), 2020. In my view, no parity can be drawn between JEE (Main), 2020 which is a nonmedical course and NEET (UG)-2020 which is for filling up of the medical seats”

With this judgment, the speculations about an extension for the last date NEET 2020 application form comes to an end. The application form for the next year expected to be released in the first week of December.