NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday deferred to July the hearing of a writ petition challenging the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) decision to cancel and re-conduct NEET-UG 2026 for nearly 22 lakh candidates.
The petition sought an interim relief of stay on the decision to re-conduct NEET-UG 2026, and a direction restraining authorities from proceeding with the proposed re-examination which is scheduled on June 21st pending adjudication of the case.
The matter was listed today before a bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice V Mohana. The bench did not hear the matter. It directed that the petition be listed before a bench led by Justice PS Narasimha, who is already hearing various cases pertaining to NEET exam. Justice Narasimha’s bench will sit only after the Supreme Court resumes regular sittings on July 13,
The petition was filed by former Assistant Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Mangala Kohli, who. challenged the NTA’s decision to cancel the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) 2026, which was conducted on May 3, 2026, and to hold a fresh examination nationwide following allegations of a paper leak and examination malpractice.
The petition contends that a blanket cancellation of the examination and a nationwide re-test unfairly penalises lakhs of bona fide candidates who had no connection with the alleged irregularities.
“The Petitioner submits that while allegations concerning paper leaks and examination malpractice are serious and require strict investigation and exemplary action against every person involved, the constitutional rights and legitimate interests of lakhs of bona fide candidates cannot be sacrificed owing to institutional and administrative failures attributable to the examination conducting authority itself”, the plea states.
It argues that the alleged malpractice, based on material disclosed during the investigation, appeared to be confined to identified persons, centres and organised networks rather than the entire examination process.
The petition contends that the decision to order a re-examination is arbitrary, excessive and disproportionate, violating Articles 14, 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Constitution. The petition further seeks structural and technological reforms in the conduct of national-level competitive examinations.
Among other reliefs, it seeks directions for implementation of secure digital examination and evaluation systems, including encrypted digital question delivery, biometric authentication, AI-assisted monitoring and computer-based examination infrastructure.
It also seeks the constitution of an independent expert committee to examine institutional and operational deficiencies within the NTA.
