A public interest litigation (PIL) seeking cancellation of the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET), scheduled to take place on August 21 has been dismissed The Supreme court. This has brought about a final halt to the ongoing debates surrounding the cancellation and rescheduling of one of India’s most important academic examinations.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, delivered the ruling "Exam was held on June 18 and exam was cancelled on June 19. Exam is now scheduled on August 21 and plea challenges the cancellation of the exam and now 2 months have elapsed. Entertaining the plea at the present stage would only add to uncertainty and add to utter chaos. Devashish Bharuka says 9 lakh will appear for the exam on August 21 and thus at this late stage, cancellation cannot be challenged," the Court noted.
The Supreme Court also observed that the government's decision to cancel the exam came after careful consideration, particularly in light of previous issues with the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). "Let this process go on now," the Bench added, emphasizing the need for the examination process to proceed without further legal disruptions.
Previously, the court had dismissed a similar PIL in July seeking the cancellation of the exam which had been scheduled in June. The plea was dismissed under the pretext that the applicant filing it has not been directly impacted by the exam cancellation and also stated that the candidated directly impacted will be given legal relief.
The UGC-NET organised ny the NTA is a vital exam the selects students for both Junior and Senior Research Fellowships. Hence, pertaining to the concerns over paper the exam which was intially to be held on June 18 was cancelled and rescheduled. This decision came came shortly after controversy erupted over irregularities in the NEET, another significant exam organized by the NTA.
There was no re-examination ordered in the NEET exam case and CBI continues its probe into it paving way for 9 lakh students to appear for the exam on August 21 without the uncertainty of further legal challenges.
TAGS: Supreme Court UGC-NET public interest litigation (PIL) cancellation rescheduling Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud Justices JB Pardiwala Manoj Misra National Testing Agency (NTA)
