Rajveersinh Dheeraj Deshmukh Thr His Father Dheeraj Sheshrao Deshmukh v. Jee Main Unit National Testing Agency Nta

2026:BHC-AUG:7653-DB

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

BENCH AT AURANGABAD WRIT PETITION NO.1634 OF 2026 Rajveersinh Dheeraj Deshmukh Age: 18 years, Occu.: Student, Represented through his father, Dheeraj Sheshrao Deshmukh, Age: 50 years, Occu.: Medical Practitioner, Both R/o. Deshmukh Hospital, Main Road, Phulenagar, Ahmedpur, Tq. Ahmedpur, District Latur.

.. Petitioner

Versus

JEE (Main) Unit, National Testing Agency (NTA), Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India, New Delhi, jeemain@nta.ac.in.

.. Respondent ...

Mr. L. V. Sangit, Advocate for the petitioner. ...

CORAM : SMT. VIBHA KANKANWADI & HITEN S. VENEGAVKAR, JJ.

DATE : 11 FEBRUARY 2026 ORDER (Per Smt. Vibha Kankanwadi, J.) :- .

Present petition has been filed for following relief :- "(A) For a writ of mandamus,order direction in the nature of mandamus or any other appropriate writ or direction, directing the respondent to permit the petitioner, [1]

to change the category from Open to OBC for JEE (Main) 2026, Session-II Examination at the time of submission of Application Form Online as per Public Notice dated 01.02.2026 and issue necessary directions to that effect." 2.

Heard learned Advocate Mr. L. V. Sangit for the petitioner. There is no necessity to issue notice to the respondent. 3.

Learned Advocate for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is taking education. He passed his 10th Examination on 13.05.2024 and is appearing for 12th standard exam now. The petitioner was not available for verification purpose because of his ongoing examination of 12th standard. Respondent had issued public notice on 19.10.2025 advisory for JEE (Main)-2026 aspirants. The online application form for Session-I were made available on their website in October, 2025. The date of Session-I Examination was between 21-30 January 2026 and submission of online application form for Session-II (April-2026) Examination will start from last week of January, 2026 and the examination will be conducted between 1-10 April 2026 onwards. Accordingly, in view of subsequent public notice dated 31.10.2025 inviting online application form for Joint Entrance Examination (Main)-2026 Session-I, the time schedule was published. Though the petitioner belongs to Kunbi Maratha caste, recognized as Other Backward Class, he was not having the caste [2]

certificate at the relevant time. Therefore, he had applied under General category and appeared for examination. A student can appear for JEE main twice i.e. two chances available and, therefore, when the applications were invited for Session-II, by that time, the petitioner was having his caste certificate. The last date of submitting online form was 27.11.2025 and in fact, the petitioner had applied for the caste certificate on 17.11.2025. He received the same in appropriate format on 02.12.2025 i.e. after the last date of submitting online application form for Session-I. Now, since that is available, he should be permitted to change the category in Session-II Examination, however, the online portal is not accepting the same. Hence, the petition. 4.

The first and the foremost fact that is required to be noted is that the petitioner had completed his 10th Examination on 13.05.2024. His 11th standard academic year would have started from June, 2025. When he was sure that he would appear in future for JEE Examination, then he ought to have collected the caste certificate well in advance. In fact, caste certificate will have to be taken much earlier, as it is useful for various purposes and it should not be restricted to when the 10th or 12th exams are near. There is absolutely no explanation in the petition as to why the application was not filed for getting the certificate well in advance. Now, at the time when Session-I Examination was given by the petitioner, he [3]

had appeared in the Open category. Now, it is the second chance in Session-II. The competition then be fair and the candidate, who had appeared from the Open category, cannot be allowed to appear from some reserved category, because of his own negligence. When such change is not permitted for the obvious reason of fair competition, we do not find this to be a fit case where we should exercise our constitutional powers under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. 5.

The writ petition stands dismissed.

[ HITEN S. VENEGAVKAR ] [ SMT. VIBHA KANKANWADI ] JUDGE JUDGE scm [4]