Delhi HC Gives JEE Students ‘Aamir Khan Film’ Style Punishment, NTA Allegations Dismissed

In an unusual turn of events, the Delhi High Court has handed down a unique “Aamir Khan film-style” punishment to two JEE Mains students who had leveled serious allegations against the National Testing Agency (NTA). While the court waived the ₹30,000 fines imposed on each student, it ordered them to engage in community service for one month.

Serious Allegations Against NTA

The two students, who appeared for the JEE Mains 2025 examination, had accused the NTA of tampering with their answer sheets and manipulating their results. Unable to substantiate their claims, they approached the Delhi High Court after a single bench dismissed their petition on 22 September 2025.

Initially, based on a detailed forensic report from the National Cyber Forensic Lab, the single judge not only rejected the students’ allegations but also imposed a ₹30,000 fine on each.

High Court Reduces Penalty, Orders Community Service

A double bench, comprising Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, has now upheld the dismissal of the petition but removed the monetary penalty. The court emphasized that strict financial punishment could negatively impact the students’ future but underscored the need to teach them a lesson.

Accordingly, the students have been ordered to perform community service for one month, which includes volunteering at elderly care homes and child care centers, serving both senior citizens and children.

A Cinematic Twist

The court’s approach has drawn comparisons to the Aamir Khan film “Taare Zameen Par” (released 22 June 2025). In the movie, the character Ishaan’s teacher, played by Aamir Khan, is assigned a task to teach basketball to neurodivergent children as a corrective measure after misbehavior. Similarly, the students in this case have been asked to engage in meaningful community service rather than face financial penalties.

This creative and socially constructive punishment has sparked widespread discussion, highlighting a judicial effort to balance accountability with education and social responsibility.