Thread by @barandbench

The Delhi High Court will hear today a plea by a group of students seeking to postpone NEET-UG exams 2022 in view the 'devastating' floods in several parts of the country.
#DelhiHighCourt #neetug2022postpone

The petition will be heard by Justice Sanjeev Narula.
#DelhiHighCourt #neetug2022

The petition has been filed through @AdvMamtaSharma and seeks rescheduling of #NEETUG22 exams by 4-6 weeks.
#DelhiHighCourt

Bench has assembled.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

Court is hearing mentionings. NEET item 48 on the board. Court will start with item 42.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

Court is still hearing one of the mentioned matters.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

Mentioned matter over. Court takes up item 42.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

Bench rises. Court will reassemble at 2:30 pm.
It will take up item 46 in the post-lunch session.

#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

Justice Narula has presided.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

Matter taken up.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

Advocate for petitioner: We are seeking rescheduling of NEET exams.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

J Narula: When was this announced?
Counsel: In April.
J Narula: Why have you come now?
Counsel: We were making representations and approachibg authorities.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

J Narula: You can't be making representations and then come before this court just days before the exams... How can 15 students decide whether the exam should be postponed or not. You were aware of these things in April. These kinds of petitions should be discouraged.

Counsel: More than 200 people have died in floods are across the country.
J Narula: The natural disasters are there. Something or other keeps happening in the country. That can't be the basis to cancel the exams.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

J Narula: Anyways you argue. We will see.
Counsel begins her arguments.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

Counsel ponts out that there is overlap between NEET and another exam.
J Narula: That is better then. At least your memory will be fresh.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

Counsel cites a a judgement of the supreme court NEET were postponed due to COVID.
J Narula: The situation during Covid second wave and today is completely different.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

Counsel reads the SC order.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

Counsel: The governemnt is keast concerned by any representation of students or of court.
J Narula: There is no direction from court. Please don't misread the order like that.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

Counsel: More than 18 lakh students are appearing. 17 students have committed suicide.
J Narula: Please don't make vague arguments. We don't knkw what was the cause of those suicides.
Counsel: There have been newspaper reports.
J Narula: We are not going to with the article.

J Narula: What are your other arguments? The schedule was in April. What did you do after that.
Counsel: We made a detailed representation.
J Narula: Who did? Please tell us the names.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

Counsel now reads the representation.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

Counsel: Class 12 exams concluded in June and they scheduled the NEET exams in July. Students need more time. This is a national level exam.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

J Narula: please point us to the para of your representation where you have raised issue against the exam schedule.
Counsel reads.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

J Narula: Where is the issue raised the CUET exams and NEET are too close... What are your grounds please tell. One is suicide. What else? There is overlapping.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

J Narula: You can't be vague. Make out a case. Which student is appearing for CUET and NEET and where are those centres.
Counsel: The students are scared because the authorities might take action against them.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

J Narula: There is no need to be scared. The court is here for them. But they have to give proper details... What are you other grounds?
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

Counsel: The students haven't had time to study.
J Narula: That is not right. Please tell us which petitioner completed their exams when?
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

Counsel reads the details.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

J Narula: You said CUET and NEET are in quick succession but you say it has been postponed.
Counsel: Yes they said it in July. They have now said that on July 15 and 16 CUET will not be for science students. There is anxiety amongst students.

J Narula: So your cause of exams being in quick succession is not there. This is completely mosconceived petition.

J Narula: Just because these are students, court is not gling to be harsh. Otherwise, it would have been dismissed with cost.

Counsel: There is a lot of pressure on students.
J Narula: The pressure can be tackled inly with study. Ask your clients to study hard. I wish all them best!
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

Counsel for the otger side is now making his submissions.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

Counsel: The time schedules have been dusturbed due to Covid. awe want to compress it this year so that it is back on track by 2023.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

Counsel: If the exams are deferred this year then it will spill over next year as well.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

J Narula: So you are now following the currebt scheduled? This has to be brought back in terms of the SC order?
Counsel: Yes.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

Counsel: More than 18 lakh students have registered and exams are in 497 cities. 14 of these are outside India. There are over 3500 centres. Even if the exams are delayed for a day, it would create a havoc.

Counsel now refers to another case where FMGE candidates had approached the court for postponement of exams.
FMGE exams are taken by students who have studied medicine abroad.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

Counsel: The court had held there was no legal right to seek postponement of exams. And this precisely will be my argument as well.

Counsel appearing for NTA now begins his sibmissions.
Counsel: We have written to chief secretaries of the states and our embassies to provide assistance. More than 90% students have downloaded their admit cards.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

J Narula dictates order.
Order: There is absolutely no merit in the petition.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22

J Narula: I was quite inclined to pass order against the petitioner but only because they are studebts we are not going. If such petitions are filed then the court will not shy away from imposing costs.

Order: There is absolutely no merit in the petition. Dismissed.
#DelhiHighCourt #NEETUG22