FPJ Legal: Rajasthan HC directs NTA to allot seat to Pakistani national for NEET exam

The Rajasthan High Court on Monday passed an interim order directing the National Testing Agency (NTA) to allot seat at an appropriate medical college to a Pakistani candidate in accordance with his position in merit list in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), thought he does not hold a long-term visa, reports Bar and Bench.

Single-judge bench Justice Dinesh Mehta said that the petitioner shall, after the allotment, be permitted to pursue his course subject to final outcome of the writ petition.

"Petitioner appeared in the NEET (UG) Examination and has secured 80% marks, it is hereby ordered that the competent authority of the NEET shall allot appropriate college to the petitioner, of course, in accordance with his merit, however, ignoring the fact that the petitioner is not having Long Term Visa in his favour," the order said.

The petitioner, one Sandeep Kumar, had moved the present writ petition, seeking direction to the Union of India to provide him a long-term visa.

The petitioner submitted that he is a Pakistani citizen who had come to India with his parents and siblings in late 2011, through valid passports under long-term visas.

It was submitted that the said visas were extended till October 2017 but thereafter the same has not been extended and the extension request is pending consideration with the competent authority.

During the hearing on August 3 last year, the petitioner had expressed his desire before the court to appear for NEET exam but had also raised an apprehension that his application for appearing in examination may be rejected for the reason that the petitioner is not in possession of a long-term visa.

The High Court had then directed the Convener, Rajasthan NEET UG Admission Board, Jaipur, and the Director of the NTA to accept the application form of the petitioner for his appearance in the NEET provisionally.