Institute of Legal and Management Studies

The Supreme Court today(August 5) passed an interim order directing reevaluation of a NEET-UG 2025 candidate who has alleged that due to the wrong sequencing of his paper, there was a reduction in his marks and rank.

It is the case that the question paper should have been sequenced from question no. 1 to 180 but it was from question 1 to 27, then 54 to 81 and then 28 to 53, and then 118 to 151, 82 to 117 and then 152 to 180. Since the OMR sheet attached to the said question paper was in rising serial from 1 to 180, there was no match of question paper and OMR. He had asked for invigilators for another copy of question paper but he was denied.

Before a bench comprising Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice KV Viswanathan, Additional Solicitor General Archana Pathak Dave appeared. She suggested that this is the rarest of rare instances, and such instances don't usually happen. Justice Nagarathna responded that this could be a genuine mistake, but nevertheless suggested that the paper could be checked manually for the satisfaction of the candidate.

Justice Nagarathna said: "Process is important, he has come for the process. He may not get a seat, but at least he will have the satisfaction that the highest court has looked into this aspect."

Apparently, the issue arises because of the incorrect sequence in which the paper was set after it was stapled.

Justice Viswanathan inquired from ASG Pathak why papers are given for stapling to those who can't read. The ASG answered: "There is a reason. I had asked this question to the officer in charge. We have to employ only semi-skilled and semi-literate people because we if we employ literate people, then if he staples it, we know for sure that one or two questions he can memorise and they can go out. In the entire 25 lakhs, these are only today nine cases, eight cases have gone to the Rajasthan High Court, wherein it has been dismissed by a single judge as well as a division bench...This is the rarest of rare case."

Justice Nagarathna responded: "Rarest of rare or not, the person must have justice."

It ordered: "We have heard learned ASG for the Respondent. She has submitted a copy of the question paper in order to explain that there was a mistake merely in the stapling of the question paper, which led to an erroneous sequencing in so much as the sequencing was not in seriatum, and that it could not have caused any prejudice to the petitioner herein. However, in order to satisfy ourselves, we direct that the petitioner's paper be evaluated manually and the result of the evaluation be placed on record. The said exercise should be carried out within 1 week. List on 12.08.2025."

Case Details: ROBIN SINGH Vs UNION OF INDIA|WRIT PETITION (C)/D No. 31136/2025

Writ petition filed through Advocate on Record Zulfigar Ali Khan.