Delhi High Court Begins Hearing on CLAT 2025 Petitions Over Alleged Exam Errors

Table of Contents

The Delhi High Court has initiated hearings on a consolidated batch of petitions transferred from various high courts across India concerning alleged discrepancies in the CLAT 2025 question paper. The court emphasized that prolonged uncertainty and stress are detrimental to candidates’ well-being and underscored the need for a prompt resolution.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, stated that it aims to expedite the hearings to facilitate the timely declaration of results. The urgency, they noted, is particularly pressing for undergraduate aspirants.

“There is urgency as far as UG is concerned. What we propose is we could complete the hearing at the earliest so that results are declared,” the bench remarked.

The court also acknowledged the “suspense and anxiety” among students, which it described as harmful and unnecessary. Initial arguments were heard from the legal counsel representing the Consortium of National Law Universities (CNLUs). The matter is scheduled for continued hearing on April 8.

Background: What Led to the Petitions?

The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), conducted in December 2024, serves as the gateway for admissions to undergraduate and postgraduate programs in India’s prestigious National Law Universities (NLUs). Following the exam, several candidates filed petitions in different high courts, alleging multiple errors in the question paper and answer key.

On February 6, 2025, the Supreme Court of India ordered the consolidation and transfer of all such petitions to the Delhi High Court to ensure uniformity in adjudication. This decision came after some petitioners requested the transfer, citing a favorable ruling by the Delhi High Court in a similar matter.

In an earlier instance, on December 20, 2024, a single-judge bench of the Delhi High Court identified clear mistakes in two questions of the CLAT-UG 2025 paper and directed the Consortium to revise the results accordingly. The court criticized the Consortium’s stance, observing that ignoring such evident errors would amount to injustice.

The petitioner had also contested the correctness of answers to two additional questions. However, the single judge did not find grounds for relief on those, prompting the candidate to appeal. Simultaneously, the Consortium filed a plea challenging the same ruling.

What Lies Ahead?

With the Delhi High Court committed to swift proceedings, especially for undergraduate candidates, the legal resolution is expected soon. The outcome will not only impact the declaration of CLAT 2025 results but may also set a precedent for handling future exam-related grievances.

About Post Author

Hemesh Choudhary

See author's posts

Spread the love