The Supreme Court of India refused to hear petitions seeking a computer-based re-examination for the NEET UG 2026 and declined to stay the scheduled re-test [1].
This decision maintains the current examination format despite ongoing fallout from paper leaks. It ensures the testing timeline remains intact for thousands of medical aspirants who must now prepare for a traditional paper-based exam under intense scrutiny.
A bench led by Justice O.S. Narasimha, also referred to as P.S. Narasimha in some reports, handled the petitions [1, 2]. The court said the matters are already pending before a designated bench and will be dealt with according to the existing schedule [2, 3]. Consequently, the court said that immediate intervention was unnecessary [2, 3].
The court's refusal was issued on Monday, June 10, 2024 [3, 4]. This ruling clears the way for the NEET UG 2026 re-test to proceed as planned on June 21, 2024 [3, 4].
Petitioners had argued for a computer-based test (CBT) to mitigate the risk of leaks and increase the integrity of the process [2, 3]. However, the court said that the existing legal challenges are already being processed. The bench is expected to hear the matter further in July 2024 [4].
Chief Justice Surya Kant also commented during the proceedings as the court reinforced its stance on the current schedule [1]. The refusal to grant an immediate hearing means the National Testing Agency will proceed with the original logistics for the June 21 date [4].
“The Supreme Court refused to hear petitions seeking a computer-based re-examination for the NEET UG 2026.”
The court's refusal to pivot to a computer-based format on short notice suggests a priority on administrative stability over immediate systemic overhauls. By adhering to the June 21 schedule, the judiciary avoids the logistical chaos of a last-minute digital transition, though it leaves the underlying concerns regarding paper-leak vulnerabilities to be addressed in future July hearings.
