HC imposes Rs 50k fine on AIIMS for denying student from giving exam

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has directed the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to pay Rs 50,000 as costs to an MBBS aspirant, who was not allowed to write the entrance exam after his Aadhaar card could not be scanned at the centre, and also issued a slew of direction to avoid a repeat of the incident.

The court observed that the controller of examination of AIIMS adopted a callous attitude in unnecessarily depriving the student from appearing in the exam. Turning back a student from an entrance examination centre would result in a fait accompli, as has happened in this case, which has to be avoided under all circumstances, it said.

The court, however, refused to order a re-exam, saying it would cause a lot of disturbance to other students who have already appeared in the test and it would be unfair to impose the burden of another exam on the other candidates.

"In view of the non-responsive attitude of AIIMS, both to the candidate's representation and before this court, the petitioner deserves to be compensated with costs for the treatment that has been meted out to him. In view of the harassment and frustration caused to the petitioner, AIIMS is directed to pay costs of Rs 50,000 to the petitioner," Justice Prathiba M Singh said.

When the matter was initially listed for hearing, the court had issued notice to AIIMS and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), asking them to file their response within a week.

While UIDAI filed a response confirming that the student's Aadhaar card was genuine, AIIMS failed to file a counter affidavit.

The court also issued a slew of direction to avoid students and candidates, appearing for the AIIMS examinations, being confronted with such incidents.

It further directed AIIMS to include in its brochure the manner in which examination centres respond to various situations.