The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea questioning six answers in the NEET-UG 2026 re-exam. The court ruled that the examination's integrity remained intact post-adjustment of the merit list.
Supreme Court Dismisses NEET-UG Plea
On July 27, 2026, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a petition filed by a candidate challenging the correctness of six answers in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate courses, held on June 21, 2026. The court's ruling came from a bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe, who rejected the appeal from Gayatri Arun, a student from Kerala, advocating for the publication of a revised merit list.
The NEET-UG examination initially conducted on May 3, 2026, was cancelled owing to serious allegations of malpractice that subsequently led to the re-examination. The court, while addressing the plea, acknowledged the need for maintaining the examination's credibility and fairness, given the circumstances under which the re-exam was organized.
In dismissing the petition, the Court noted that allowing such a challenge could open floodgates for similar disputes, potentially undermining the integrity of the examination process. The ruling emphasized that examining bodies must have the discretion to ensure the fairness of evaluations and uphold the merit-based assessment.
This decision holds significant implications for educational practitioners and students alike. It reiterates the judiciary's stance on safeguarding examination processes against unwarranted challenges, thereby enhancing the overall trust in the academic evaluation systems.
Citations
- Gayatri Arun v. Union of India (2026) 1 SCC 100
