SC demands response from Centre, CBSE and MCI regarding AIPMT 2015 Re-exam due to irregularities

A Vacation Bench of the Supreme Court comprising of Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice U.U. Lalit has issued notices to the Centre, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Medical Council of India and Haryana, on a petition seeking re-conduct of the 2015-16 All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT).

AIPMT examination is held for qualifying admissions to medical and dental courses in India.

The petitions, filed by Tanya Sarwal, through Advocate Prashant Bhushan, allege large scale irregularities in the examination. It says that the investigation carried out by the Special Investigation Team of Haryana into alleged leak of answer keys has revealed that the accused gang operated in different states including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. It claims that at least 90 leaked answer keys were transmitted to candidates in consideration of Rs 15-20 lakh.

“There were specially designed jackets and vests purchased from Delhi which contained SIM cards and Bluetooth ear pieces” and according to police the “modus operandi of the gang resembles the one adopted in the alleged leaking of the AIIMS PG entrance exam paper in 2012″.

It therefore prays, "Issue appropriate writ directing the respondent no 1 (CBSE) to forthwith re-conduct the AIPMT examination 2015-16 in order to meet time schedule as provided in the regulations on Graduate Medical Education, framed by the MCI under the Indian Medical Council Act.”

It further contended that the “counseling/admission” conducted on the basis of the vitiated examinations will violate Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India.

The petition requires an urgent hearing, since the delay would have serious consequences on the future of the candidates and quality of medical education in the country. "Any delay in conducting the re-examination will frustrate the schedule resulting in either delay in commencement of academic session for 2015-16 or reduction in seats reserved for all India quota," it said.

The Petition will now be heard on May 21.