Supreme Court Declines to Entertain Plea Challenging CLAT-PG 2025 Results, Grants Liberty to Move High Court

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On December 9, 2024, the Supreme Court declined to entertain a plea challenging the provisional results of the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT-PG) 2025, directing the petitioners to approach the High Court for appropriate remedies. The bench, comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, dismissed the petition, reiterating that the Supreme Court cannot act as the “court of first instance” in such matters.

Key Highlights of the Hearing

  1. Challenge to the Answer Key and Exam Process:
    The petition, filed by Anam Khan and Ayush Agarwal, alleged several lapses in the conduct of CLAT 2025, including errors in the provisional answer key and unequal treatment in distributing question booklets and OMR response sheets. Petitioners claimed that 12 questions had incorrect answers, leading to grievances among candidates.
  2. CJI’s Observations:
    The CJI firmly remarked that intervention by the apex court has previously caused delays in exam processes, sometimes by several years. He advised the petitioners to seek redress before the High Court, emphasizing the court’s judgments on avoiding unnecessary interference with such matters.
    “We cannot be the court of first instance. This has been clarified in earlier judgments,” the CJI stated, adding, “Please go to the High Court.”
  3. On Fees for Raising Objections:
    The petitioners also challenged the fee of ₹1,000 per objection as exorbitant. Addressing this, the CJI dismissed the argument, stating that the fee was not unreasonable, given the expenses involved in the examination process.
  4. Fundamental Rights Violations Claimed:
    The petitioners argued that their fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 21A of the Constitution were violated due to irregularities in the CLAT examination process. They also objected to the limited window of time provided for raising objections (only a day), which ended on December 3.
  5. Relief Sought by Petitioners:
    The petition sought a stay on the publication of CLAT-PG 2025 results and the counseling process until objections to the provisional answer key were addressed. Petitioners argued that requiring ₹12,000 for raising objections to 12 answers, even after paying a ₹4,000 examination fee, was unfair.
  6. Court’s Direction:
    While dismissing the petition, the Court granted liberty to the petitioners to approach the High Court if their grievances persist.
    “We are not inclined to intervene in the said petition. The petitioner is given liberty to approach the High Court,” the Court stated.

Background of the Case

The CLAT-PG 2025 examination was conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities on December 1, 2024, with the provisional answer key released on December 2. The final answer key is scheduled for release on December 9, followed by results on December 10. The petition alleged procedural lapses and errors in the provisional answer key, which affected fairness and transparency.

Case Title:

Anam Khan & Another v. Consortium of National Law Universities | Diary No. 56811/2024

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