JEE Mains Row: Delhi HC Hands Probe to NCFL After CFSL Exit

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday, May 20, directed the National Cyber Forensic Laboratory (NCFL) to probe the alleged manipulations in the conduct of the JEE (Main) 2025 exams, after the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) told the court that it could not probe the matter.

The court had previously directed the CFSL to probe the irregularities.

However, the court was informed today by CFSL that it does not have the technology required to investigate the alleged irregularities in the JEE Mains 2025 examination.

A bench led by Justice Vikas Mahajan took note of a letter received from the Director of CFSL, which stated that network forensics does not fall within CFSL’s scope of services. It further noted that CFSL Delhi does not have the required logistics for server imaging of the National Testing Agency (NTA ) or National Testing Agency (NIC).

Emphasising the urgency of the matter, the court further asked the Director, NCFL, to expedite the investigation and furnish a report in a sealed cover on or before 29 May 2025.

"Accordingly, the Director of NCFL is requested to ascertain the facts in terms of the questions posed by the Court in its order dated May 14, 2025, in both writ petitions. The Director is also requested to expedite the investigation and furnish the report in a sealed cover on or before May 29," the court directed.

After taking note of the submissions, the Court directed the Registry to send all relevant documents and details to the NCFL.

"....since the results of JEE Advanced will be declared on June 2, the Registry is directed to send all documents referred to in previous orders to the NCFL."

The High Court had earlier ordered a probe by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) after some students moved the court, alleging possible manipulation in the conduct of the JEE (Main) 2025 exams.

Observing that it was imperative to refer the matter to experts, a bench led by Justice Vikas Mahajan had directed that the case be referred to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL).

The direction was issued keeping in view that the JEE (Advanced) 2025 results are scheduled to be declared on June 2, 2025.

Court had passed the following direction in a plea moved by two students who appeared for JEE (Main) 2025. One of the student ( Petitioner No. 1), claimed that her original scorecard showed 98.68 percentile in Session I, but the final result showed only 25.58, and her response sheet was also manipulated.

Similarly, another student (Petitioner No. 2) had also alleged that his Session I score dropped from the 94.81 to the 80.41 percentile, and in Session II, there was an alteration in the attempted and unattempted questions.

The Court had made it clear that the interim directions will depend on the final outcome of the case.

Case Title: ANUSHA GUPTA & ORS vs NATIONAL TESTING AGENCY (THROUGH THE DIRECTOR) & ORS.