Chandigarh: While the alleged NEET paper leak continues to fuel nationwide protests and political debate, another NEET-linked controversy has reached the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Fifteen BAMS students have approached the High Court, alleging they were unknowingly caught in an admission fraud after agents allegedly used forged NEET scorecards to secure their admissions.
Represented by Advocate Manjinder Singh Brar, the students have filed a writ petition claiming they were promised confirmed admission to the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) programme by two alleged admission agents, Tarsem Kumar and Raj Kumar. According to the plea, the students had submitted their original documents and paid the required amounts, believing the admissions were being processed legally.
The petition states that the students were admitted to Shiv Shakti Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital, Bhikhi, Mansa, during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic sessions through Guru Ravidas Ayurved University. They continued their studies for nearly four years, successfully clearing examinations until they were prevented from appearing in subsequent exams after questions were raised over their admissions.
According to the petitioners, they later discovered that forged NEET scorecards had allegedly been used during the admission process without their knowledge. They claim they immediately informed the university authorities after learning about the alleged manipulation. However, despite asserting that they were victims of the fraud, their admissions were cancelled.
The students have also lodged a complaint with the Punjab Vigilance Bureau, alleging that they are now facing pressure to withdraw the complaint if they wish to complete their studies.
The case has gained significance after a preliminary inquiry conducted by retired Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Justice Rajiv Narain Raina reportedly found no evidence suggesting that the students themselves were involved in the alleged forgery.
The inquiry, submitted on January 14, 2026, examined admissions of 17 students to the BAMS course for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 sessions. It confirmed discrepancies between the NEET scorecards submitted during admission and the official records maintained by the National Testing Agency (NTA), concluding that altered scorecards had indeed been used.
However, the report noted that the students had consistently maintained they handed over their original documents to admission intermediaries, Raj Kumar Mehta and Mohit Mehta, for processing under the management quota and were unaware of any forged documents being submitted on their behalf.
The inquiry further observed that responsibility for verifying original documents and NEET scorecards rested with the college administration under the university prospectus. It stated that Shiv Shakti Ayurvedic Medical College failed to discharge its statutory duty of verifying the authenticity of the documents before granting admissions.
Importantly, the inquiry did not hold the students guilty. Instead, it observed that the available material suggested they had acted in good faith and were allegedly misled by individuals connected with the admission process.
Considering that many students had already completed most of their medical education, the inquiry recommended that those who had cleared all examinations be allowed to appear for an exit or competency examination, after which their admissions could be regularised. For students unable to complete the course, the report suggested a full refund of fees with interest, recoverable from the college.
The report also recorded that an FIR had already been registered on January 6, 2026, in connection with the alleged fraudulent admissions, while clarifying that fixing criminal liability would remain the responsibility of the investigating agency and the competent criminal court.
According to the petition, despite these recommendations, the university constituted another high-powered committee, which passed a speaking order cancelling the admissions. The students have challenged this decision before the High Court, arguing that it was based on assumptions and lacked legally sustainable evidence.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notice in the matter and listed the case for further hearing in early August.
