The Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear the case of re-exam of NEET 2026. The application was about the demand to conduct it as a Computer-Based Test (CBT) instead of the existing pen-and-paper format. In this, a demand has been made to take immediate measures to amend the method of examination and improve the system of this important medical entrance exam. An urgent hearing on this petition was demanded because the original NEET-UG exam held on May 3 was canceled across the country on May 12 following allegations of paper leak.
After this the CBI started investigation and the exam was rescheduled for June 21. According to reports, the controversy started when scrutineers examined a predicted paper, which reportedly matched a large part of the actual question paper. This gave rise to suspicions that confidential examination material had been circulated before the examination.
Re-exam should be conducted only in CBT mode.
This alleged leak led to protests by students and parents in many states and led to intense scrutiny of NTA’s examination procedures. Refusing to hear the matter, a bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Arvind Kumar adjourned the matter till July, effectively denying the relief of NEET re-examination. The petitioner’s lawyer said that he is insisting on the application to conduct the re-examination through computer only in CBT mode.
The lawyer said that today I am not making any other demand. On this, Justice Narasimha said that the court has rejected similar demands earlier also. Then the lawyer said that for the re-examination to be held on June 21, the examination process is being carried forward on physical basis. On this the bench pointed towards the practical difficulties being faced by the examination authorities.
The petition has already been rejected
Justice Narasimha said there was no question of granting such relief at this stage and added that the authorities were already facing several significant challenges. Justice Narasimha further said that you know what kind of problems are being faced. The exam was cancelled, now it is being conducted again. Note the pressures being placed on officials and reiterate that similar petitions have been rejected in the past.
The court will not hear this matter immediately. Will keep it for hearing after recess. The bench attached this application along with other petitions demanding reforms in NTA. In the main petitions, the petitioners have sought directions to conduct re-examination through secure CBT system. They argue that digital examinations will reduce the risks associated with printing, transporting and physically handling question papers. The matter is pending in the Supreme Court, which has sought response from the Centre, NTA and CBI and listed the matter for further hearing.
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