Supreme Court Rejects Plea Against UGC-NET Exam Cancellation

The Supreme Court declined a fresh plea challenging the government's cancellation of the UGC-NET examination due to an alleged paper leak. The court emphasized maintaining certainty for the nine lakh students scheduled to retake the exam on August 21. Earlier petitions on the same issue were also dismissed.

The Supreme Court, on Monday, refused to entertain a new plea filed by some examinees challenging the government's decision to cancel the UGC-NET examination following an alleged question paper leak, stating that intervention at this late stage would cause 'chaos'.

A bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, along with justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, noted that the government plans to reconduct the exam on August 21. The CJI emphasized that the nearly nine lakh students need 'certainty' now. 'The Supreme Court stepping in now will create chaos,' the CJI said, dismissing the plea filed by Praveen Dabas and others.

The bench clarified that the exam held on June 18 was canceled the day after due to concerns over its integrity. The Central government must be 'doubly cautious' following the NEET-UG fiasco, the CJI added. Earlier, the court had dismissed a PIL on the same issue, as it was filed by a lawyer and not the aggrieved candidates themselves.