'Let Affected Students Come': Supreme Court Rejects Laywer's PIL Challenging Cancellation Of UGC-NET 2024 Exams

The Supreme Court today (July 29) refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation(PIL) challenging the National Testing Agency's (NTA) decision to cancel the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) examinations due to an alleged paper leak. 

The PIL was filed by a law graduate who sought directions to overturn the NTA's decision. However, the Chief Justice of India (CJI)  pointed out that the petitioner-in-person had no locus in the matter and it would be imperative for the affected students to approach the Court themselves.  

During the brief hearing, the CJI posed, "Why are you concerned? what's your locus? somebody who's a member of the Bar files a PIL. Utilise your time in some substantive legal matters, not just something you read in the newspaper and file a PIL.  Let them (students) come here, we will deal with it." 

The bench of CJI DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra ultimately declined to hear the PIL. In doing so, the court made it clear that it was not expressing any opinion on the merits of the case.

" While declining to entertain the above PIL, We clarify that we have not expressed anything on merits."  

It may be noted that the UGC-NET 2024 Exam took place on June 18 in which over 9 Lakh candidates appeared. The Ministry of Education on June 19 announced the cancellation of the Exam as prima facie indicators of the 'compromised integrity' of the exam were flagged by the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The matter was handed over to CBI for further investigation. 

The Union also announced that details for the fresh examination will be released soon. It may noted that the said decision came while the Top Court was already seized of the challenge to the NEET-UG 2024 Exams and alleged paper leaks. 

The Top Court on July 23 refused to cancel the NEET-UG 2024 exam on the grounds of paper leaks and malpractices. The Court stated that there was no material to indicate that the leak was systemic affecting the sanctity of the entire exam. 

Case Details : UJJAWAL GAUR Versus MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND ORS. W.P.(C) No. 467/2024