Students Cannot Suffer For Technical Errors In Online Enrolment: Madhya Pradesh HC

Administrative and technical blunders during online registration cannot be weaponized to ruin a student's career when the institutional records confirm their genuine identity. The High Court has firmly rejected the state board's rigid timeline defenses, ruling that bona fide candidates cannot be denied amended academic documents over clerical errors not attributable to them.

A single-judge bench of Justice Sandeep N. Bhatt addressed a writ petition under Article 226 of Constitution of India filed by a candidate seeking immediate rectification of an incorrect photograph printed on his two-year Diploma in Elementary Education marksheets for the academic sessions 2019-2020.

Court Observations and Directions

Evaluating similar coordinate bench decisions involving clerical errors in online records, the Court noted that candidates who continuously pursue corrections after encountering portal glitches cannot be blamed for administrative inaction.

The Court, in its reasoning, observed: "The petitioner cannot be made to suffer on account of a clerical or technical mistake committed during the online registration process, particularly when the original institutional records consistently establish her identity. The action of the respondents in rejecting the petitioner's request is, therefore, arbitrary, unreasonable, and unsustainable in law."

The Court has following directions:

"8. Respondent No. 2 is directed to immediately rectify the photograph in the petitioner's second-year Diploma in Elementary Education marksheets (2019-2020) and release the amended and corrected marksheets to the petitioner expeditiously, preferably within a period of seven (07) days.
9. The petitioner shall apply before the Board within two working days from today, and thereafter, within seven (07) days, respondent No. 3 authority shall also forward the necessary records regarding the original and relevant documents submitted at the time of admission. Respondent No. 3 shall also provide the same to the petitioner as well as the respondent-Board within three working days for necessary compliance."

Background

The petitioner was selected for the post of Primary School Teacher under the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board. However, despite submitting correct photographs and making repeated requests, his 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education marksheets (2019-2020) were issued with an incorrect photograph by the Board of Secondary Education. Facing document verification on July 15, 2026, the petitioner approached the High Court seeking an urgent remedy.

The Board opposed the petition citing delay and relied on Clause 4 of its 2015 instructions restricting photograph corrections after a one-year limit, as well as precedents like W.P. No. 17425 of 2022. Conversely, the Court took note of another coordinate bench decision in W.P. No. 43759 of 2025, which held that students cannot be penalized for technical errors on registration portals when institutional records confirm their details and no fraud is alleged. Applying the same legal principle, the High Court granted relief and disposed of the petition.

Case Details:
Case No.: WRIT PETITION No. 25803 of 2026
Neutral Citation: 2026:MPHC-IND:24170
Case Title: JAYENDRA KUMAR LABANA Versus THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND OTHERS
Appearances:
For the Petitioner(s): Shri Anirudh Patwa, Advocate
For the Respondent(s): Ms. Drishti Rawal, GA for Respondent/State, Ms. Darshna Baghel, Advocate for Respondent No.2/Board, Shri R.K. Jain, Advocate for Respondent No.3, Shri Mukesh Kumawat, Advocate for Respondent No.4

Source: 2026 CaseBase(MP) 16825