Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on August 12 refused to entertain a petition challenging the cancellation of the UGC-NET 2024 (University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test) examination on the basis of alleged paper leaks.
“Nearly two months have elapsed since the examination was cancelled and the fresh examination is now to be held in the course of the next few days. In this view of the matter, entertaining the present petition under Article 32 of the Constitution at present stage would only add uncertainty and result in utter chaos,” said a bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud.
The Bench, also comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, noted that a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a similar relief was dismissed by the apex court at an earlier occasion. The latest petition filed by a group of UGC-NET aspirants sought immediate intervention of the Supreme Court to halt the decision to conduct the examination afresh. The plea filed through advocate Rohit Kumar claimed that the decision to cancel the entire exam is not only arbitrary but also unjust, given the recent findings revealed in the course of the CBI investigation.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) found that the evidence suggesting the paper leak is doctored, thus nullifying the grounds on which the cancellation was based.
“The unwarranted cancellation of the exam has caused significant distress, anxiety, and unnecessary expenditure of resources for the aspirants who have rigorously prepared for this crucial examination. The decision has disrupted the academic and professional plans of countless students, undermining their trust in the examination system,” the petitioners argued in their petition.
