Karnataka High Court
Smt. Vardhini Arunkumar Thattar vs National Testing Agency (Nta) on 29 October, 2025
Author: S.R.Krishna Kumar
Bench: S.R.Krishna Kumar
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NC: 2025:KHC:43325
WP No. 31312 of 2025
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 29TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR
WRIT PETITION NO.31312 OF 2025 (EDN-RES)
BETWEEN:
SMT. VARDHINI ARUNKUMAR THATTAR,
AGED ABOUT 16 YEARS,
MINOR REPRESENTED BY HER
FATHER AND NATURAL GUARDIAN,
SRI. ARUNKUMAR NARAYANACHAR THATTAR
NO.21/1, BHARADWAJ, 5TH MAIN ROAD,
RAGHAVENDRA LAYOUT,
HOSKEREHALLI, BSK 3RD STAGE,
BANGALORE - 560 085.
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI. KESHAV R. AGNIHOTRI, ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. NATIONAL TESTING AGENCY (NTA)
FIRST FLOOR, NSIC-MDBP BUILDING,
OKHLA INDUSTRIAL ESTATE,
NEW DELHI - 110 020
REPRESENTED BY DIRECTOR (EXAMS).
2. UNION OF INDIA,
Digitally signed
by CHANDANA DEPT. OF HIGHER EDUCATION,
BM SHASTRI BHAWAN,
DR. RAJENDRA PRASAD ROAD,
Location: High NEW DELHI-110 001
Court of
Karnataka REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY.
3. KARNATAKA SECONDARY EDUCATION
EXAMINATION BOARD (KSEEB),
6TH CROSS, MALLESWARAM,
BENGALURU - 560 003.
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY.
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. H. SHANTHI BHUSHAN, DSGI FOR R-1;
SRI.M. UNNIKRISHNAN, ADVOCATE FOR R-2 &
SRI. K. MANJUNATH K., HCGP FOR R-3)
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NC: 2025:KHC:43325
WP No. 31312 of 2025
HC-KAR
THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO CALL FOR RECORDS
PERTAINING TO THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PETITIONER ON THE
FILE OF THE RESPONDENTS HEREIN VIDE REPRESENTATION DT.
03/10/2025 ANNEXURE-J AND REPRESENTATION DT. 09/10/2025
ANNEXURE-M RESPECTIVELY AND ETC.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER
WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR
ORAL ORDER
In this petition, petitioner seeks the following reliefs:
"(i) Call for records pertaining to the representations of the petitioner on the file of the respondents herein vide representation dated 03/10/2025 Annexure-J and representation dated 09/10/2025 Annexure-M, respectively,
(ii) Pass an appropriate writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents herein to consider the representation of the Petitioner dated 03/10/2025 Annexure-J and Representation dated 09/10/2025 Annexure-M respectively and do the needful in favour of the petitioner,
(iii) Pass an appropriate writ, order or direction in the nature of certiorari quashing the impugned Public Notice dated 29.09.2025 issued by the respondent No.1 vide Annexure-G as being unreasonable, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India or in the alternative issue writ, order or direction in the nature of -3- NC: 2025:KHC:43325 WP No. 31312 of 2025 HC-KAR mandamus directing the respondent No.1 to receive the online application of the petitioner without insisting for strict compliance of matching the name of the applicant in the SSLC Marks Card vide Annexure-A,
(iv) Pass an appropriate writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus directing the respondent No.3/KSEEB to issue the corrected SSLC Marks Card of the petitioner as expeditiously as possible AND
(v) Pass such other necessary orders as deemed just and expedient in the circumstances of the case along with the costs of this petition, thereby allowing the above writ petition in the interest of justice and equity."
2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the respondents and perused the material on record.
3. A perusal of the material on record will indicate that the petitioner's full name is Kum. Vardhini Arunkumar Thattar daughter of Sri. Arunkumar Narayanachar Thattar and Smt. Bharathi K. The petitioner having been born on 24.08.2008 has obtained updated Birth Certificate, which indicates her full name as Kum.Vardhini Arunkumar Thattar. Similarly, her Aadhar Card has also been updated by showing her full name as Kum. Vardhini Arunkumar Thattar. However, despite representations submitted by the -4- NC: 2025:KHC:43325 WP No. 31312 of 2025 HC-KAR petitioner to the SSLC Board, PU Board, her name still continued to remain as Kum. Vardhini A.T. instead of Kum. Vardhini Arunkumar Thattar. Similarly, respondent No.1 - National Testing Agency (NTA) issued a public notice dated 29.09.2025 interalia contending that for the purpose of applying for Joint Entrance Examination (Main) - 2026, there shall not be any mismatch between the name of the petitioner in the SSLC Marks Card and her name in the Aadhar Card. Under these circumstances, the petitioner is before this Court by way of the present petition.
4. Learned DSGI for respondent No.1 - NTA fairly submits that the apprehension of the petitioner is misconceived inasmuch as respondent No.1 has subsequently issued a Public Notice dated 19.10.2025, which clarifies earlier Public Notice dated 06.11.2024 and the same reads as under:
PUBLIC NOTICE 19 October 2025 Subject: Advisory for JEE (Main)- 2026 Aspirants The National Testing Agency will be conducting the Joint Entrance Examination(Main)-2026 in CBT Mode in two sessions (January 2026 and April 2026). The online -5- NC: 2025:KHC:43325 WP No. 31312 of 2025 HC-KAR application form for Sessions -I will be made live on the website (http://jeemain.nta.nic.in/) in October 2025.
A tentative schedule for the conduct of JEE (Main) - 2026 is given below for information of all JEE aspirants:
EVENTS DATES
Sessions 1 (January 2026)
Online Submission of Application Form October 2025 onwards
Dates of Examination Between 21-30 January
2026
Session 2 (April 2026)
Online Submission of Application Form Last week of January
2026 onwards
Dates of Examination Between 01-10 April 2026
In order to facilitate active participation of large number of candidates in JEE (Main) 2026, NTA is working towards increasing the number of cities for wider approach and ease of engineering aspirants. Furthermore, special attention is being given to address the requirements and needs of PwD/ PwBD candidates appearing in the Examination.
To minimize the procedural difficulties of JEE(Main)- 2026 aspirants while filling the online application form, the National Testing Agency had issued a public notice on 29 September 2025. The primary objective of issuing this advisory was to support lakhs of aspirants across the country by encouraging timely and accurate updation. NTA will be obtaining Name, Date of Birth, Gender, Photograph and Address from UIDAI through Aadhaar Authentication (for updation in Aadhaar, please follow UIDAI guidelines). However, since Father/Mother/Guardian's name etc. is not recorded in Aadhaar, candidates would have to fill such details separately in the online application form.
-6-NC: 2025:KHC:43325 WP No. 31312 of 2025 HC-KAR In case of name mismatch in Aadhaar Card and 10th Educational Certificate / Marksheet of any candidate, an option will be given to overcome this issue during the online application stage. They may also refer to the NTA Public Notice dated 06 November, 2024, which is available at JEE(Main) Website https://jeemain.nta.nic.in on "Advisory and Instructions on Aadhar Card Name Mismatch while filling up application form for JEE(Main) 2025" which will also be application for JEE(Main)-2026.
NTA strives to strengthen transparency, trust and integrity in the examination process by maintaining the accuracy of candidate information at every stage and extends warm wishes to all JEE aspirants for a joyful, prosperous, and Happy Diwali.
May your efforts light up the way to success and bring a bright future in your academic journey."
5. It is submitted that in the event petitioner submits an application to take up JEE (Main) 2025 examination, respondent No.1 would necessarily have to follow prescribed procedure as enumerated and described in para 4 of the submissions made on behalf of the respondent No.1, which reads as hereunder:
"4. SUBMISSION OF NTA (R-1):-
a. The National Testing Agency has issued an advisory and instruction for the eligible aspirants of Joint Entrance Examination -JEE(Main) 2026 through Public Notice dated 29 September 2025 for updation of Aadhar -7- NC: 2025:KHC:43325 WP No. 31312 of 2025 HC-KAR Card / UDID Card / Category Certificate etc., in advance before applying the online application form for Joint Entrance Examination (Main) 2026, with a view to avoid any impersonation or any hardship to the candidate(s) caused due to the discrepancies such as, name/date of birth/father's name/mother's name in the essential documents like Class X/XII Certificate, Category certificate at a later stage at the time of admission.
b. It is respectfully submitted that the Online Application Form for the aforesaid Exam is required to be filled up by the Candidate(s) concerned with the particulars which they think as correct and which they can vouch with the supporting documents at the time of admission. It is pertinent to mention that NTA does not edit/change any particular in the online application form of any candidate at any stage.
c. The candidates can register themselves on the NTA Web Portal for JEE (Main) 2026 by using either their full name or short name as mentioned in their 10th marksheet. In order to prevent any discrepancies at a subsequent stage related to Aadhar Card, the following pop-up message will come while filling up the online application form.
"Name mismatch during Aadhar Authentication. To update your name in Aadhaar card, please visit your nearest Aadhar Seva Kendra. To proceed with Aadhar Authenticating, please enter your name as given in Aadhaar.
On closing the above message/ Pop-up box, a new window will appear on the screen to proceed with Aadhaar authentication. In this step, candidates must enter their name exactly as it appears on their Aadhaar card.-8-
NC: 2025:KHC:43325 WP No. 31312 of 2025 HC-KAR Both the name on the educational certificate and the Aadhaar card will be captured during this process, allowing the candidate to continue with the application."
d. It is also pertinent submit that the NTA, vide Public Notice dated 19.10.2025 issued an Advisory for JEE(Main) 2026 Aspirants. Through this Advisory, the aspiring candidates has been further intimated that in case of name mismatch in Aadhaar Card and 10th Educational Certificate/Marksheet of any candidate, an option will be given to overcome this issue during the online application stage. They may also refer to the NTA Public Notice dated 06 November, 2024, which is available at JEE(Main) Website https://jeemain.nta.nic.in on "Advisory and Instructions on Aadhaar Card Name Mismatch while filling up application form for JEE (Main) 2025" which will also be applicable for JEE (Main) 2026. A copy of the said Public Notice dated 19.10.2025 and 06.11.2024 are enclosed herewith as Annexure-I and Annexure-II respectively.
e. In light of the above, it is submitted that the petitioner may be advised to follow the above instructions during filling up the online application form for JEE (Main) 2026, as and when the same would commence under intimation to the aspiring candidates to a separate Public Notice to be issued by NTA through the JEE (Main) Exam Portal (https://jeemain.nta.ac.in/).
f. The petitioner may fill up her Name in the Online Application Form which she would be able to get corrected in her Class X / XII Certificate in due course, as there is sufficient time for the same till admission.
-9-NC: 2025:KHC:43325 WP No. 31312 of 2025 HC-KAR g. The demand of the petitioner for the quashing of the Public Notice dated 29.09.2025 issued by the Respondent No.1 (NTA) is not justified, since it has been issued in larger public interest, as explained in para 4 (a) above. The petitioner has no legal right or fundamental right to seek such relief. Rather, such Public Notice is in her long term interest and it would persuade her or her parents/guardian to get her Name corrected in the said certificate through due process. In any case, different name in different documents is not in the interest of the petitioner."
6. The aforesaid facts and circumstances will clearly indicate that the apprehension of the petitioner that due to her name being shown in the SSLC Marks Card as Vardhini A.T. and her name being shown in the Aadhar Card and Birth Certificate as Vardhini Arunkumar Thattar is sufficient to indicate that her interest has been safeguarded / protected by respondent No.1 - NTA in terms of the Public Notice dated 19.10.2025. It is pertinent to note that in the event petitioner follows prescribed procedure as indicated in the Public Notice dated 19.10.2025 at the time of filing the application, in view of the submissions made on behalf of respondent No.1 referred to supra, respondent No.1 will consider the application in the relevant portal and proceed further.
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NC: 2025:KHC:43325 WP No. 31312 of 2025 HC-KAR
7. In the result, I pass the following:
ORDER
(i) The petition is hereby disposed of.
(ii) Respondent No.3 / KSEEB is directed to update the correct name of the petitioner in the SSLC Marks Card as Vardhini Arunkumar Thattar and issue a fresh / new / updated marks card showing the name of the petitioner as Vardhini Arunkumar Thattar within a period of one month from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
(iii) It is made clear that the present order is passed in the peculiar / unique / special facts and circumstances of the instant case and the same shall not be treated as precedent nor shall carry any precedential value for any purpose of whatsoever.
Sd/-
(S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR) JUDGE SV List No.: 3 Sl No.: 16