Both candidates and authorities responsible to maintain integrity of high-stakes exams: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court recently stressed that the responsibility for maintaining the credibility of a competitive and professional examination system rests on both candidates and the examination authorities [Dr Sanchari Ghosh v National Board of Exams in Medical Sciences & Anr].

Justice Jasmeet Singh made the observation while upholding the cancellation of a doctor’s candidature for National Board (FNB) Cardiac Electrophysiology fellowship.

The Court found that the doctor had not obtained the required Doctor of National Board (DrNB) Cardiology qualification by the prescribed cut-off date but had misrepresented the same to sit for the entrance exam.

Hence, it imposed costs of ₹1,000 on her.

The Court also criticised the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) for detecting her ineligibility only after she had undergone more than nine months of training.

In light of the same, the judge proceeded to impose costs of ₹10,000 on NBEMS.

In its August 18 judgment, the Court observed that the case highlighted the need for both sides to adhere to the rules governing high-stakes examinations.

“The integrity of a high stakes examination system is a shared responsibility. Neither can the candidates take the system for granted, nor can the system take the candidates for granted,” said the Court.

The Court was hearing a plea by Dr. Sanchari Ghosh challenging NBEMS’ May 22, 2026 decision cancelling her candidature for the FNB Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship for the 2024 admission session.

Ghosh had secured rank 14 in the Fellowship Entrance Test (FET)-2024 and was allotted a seat at Narayana Hrudayalaya in Bengaluru where she joined the fellowship on August 18, 2025.

Under the FET-2024 rules, candidates were required to obtain the prescribed postgraduate qualification by December 31, 2024. However, Ghosh’s DrNB Cardiology final examination was held only in January 2025 and her provisional pass certificate was issued on May 29, 2025.

The Court found that Ghosh had entered December 31, 2024 as her “PG Year of Passing” in her FET application. She had entered the same date during online registration and later affirmed that she met the eligibility criteria.

The Court held that she had misrepresented her eligibility on three occasions and could not claim equitable relief. It also rejected her plea that COVID-19 delays justified her continuation.

The Court further held that her admission and nine months of training did not create a vested right, as the FET rules permitted cancellation if ineligibility was detected later.

At the same time, the Court also criticised NBEMS for failing to detect the discrepancy earlier.

It noted that Ghosh had disclosed that she joined the three-year DrNB course on April 16, 2022, making it apparent that she could not have completed the qualification by the December 31, 2024 cut-off. Yet, NBEMS allowed her to appear for FET, participate in counselling, join the fellowship and undergo more than nine months of training.

Emphasising the importance of properly administering medical examinations, the Court said,

“In India, examinations, particularly competitive and professional examinations, are not mere academic exercises. For millions of students, they represent years of preparation, sacrifice and uncertainty, and often determine the direction of their professional lives. This applies more to the medical field, where a limited number of superspeciality seats are sought by a large number of qualified doctors. Merit loses its meaning if the process through which it is determined is compromised.”

While dismissing Ghosh’s plea against the cancellation of her fellowship candidature, the Court imposed costs of ₹1,000 on her and ₹10,000 on NBEMS.

It said the cost on NBEMS was meant to ensure greater “institutional accountability” and to emphasise the need for greater diligence in examination, counselling and verification processes.

Advocates Shivendra Singh, Ankur Sood, Kaushik Mishra, Shailesh K Rajora, Aryama Singh Rajput, Vishvajeet Singh Rana and Deepshikha Kumar appeared on behalf of Dr. Sanchari Ghosh.

Advocates Waize Ali Noor, Mrinal Kumar Sharma, Varun Rajawat and Zillur Rahman represented NBEMS.

[Read Judgment]