‘We understand the students' plight, but…': MP High Court reserves verdict on NTA's appeal against NEET UG retest
A division bench of Justices Vivek Rusia and Binod Kumar Dwivedi heard arguments from both sides before reserving the order. The Court had earlier stayed the single-judge ruling. The bench orally acknowledged the mental stress caused to students due to the disruption, however expressed concern over the practicality of a re-exam. 'We understand the students' plight… but out of 22 lakh candidates, only a few were affected. Everyone cannot be selected. Hard luck, bad luck,' the bench remarked.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the NTA, submitted that an independent committee comprising professors from IIT-Delhi and other universities had found no significant performance difference between affected and unaffected centres. He argued that the exam could continue due to the availability of natural light and diesel generators at some centres. He opposed the re-test plea, calling it a 'second bite at the cherry,' and warned that a retest would delay the entire academic calendar.
He also opposed awarding grace marks, stating there is no clear method to determine who should receive them. He cited examples of high scorers from the affected centres, including a candidate who secured AIR 2, to argue that performance was not uniformly hindered.
Advocates representing the students, however, maintained that light was insufficient, candlelight had to be used, and no power backup was provided, which is unacceptable in 2025. They emphasised that even a few affected candidates have the right to relief and cited previous court rulings in support. They sought a re-exam only for the genuinely affected students, not the entire centre.
The case stems from a June 30 order by Justice Subodh Abhyankar, who noted that the affected candidates were put at a disadvantage through no fault of their own, warranting judicial interference under Article 14 of the Constitution.
The High Court will now decide whether exceptional circumstances merit a limited re-exam.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Himachal HC quashes Section 163-A of state's Land Revenue Act
Shimla, In a major setback to encroachers on government lands, the Himachal Pradesh High Court on Tuesday struck down the section 163-A of Himachal Pradesh Land Revenue Act 1954, allowing regularisation of encroachments on government lands, terming the section as unconstitutional. Himachal HC quashes Section 163-A of state's Land Revenue Act A division bench of the High Court consisting of Justice Vivek Thakur and Justice Bipin Chander Negi ruled that the "Section 163-A of HP Land Revenue Act is manifestly arbitrary and unconstitutional and as a consequence the section and the rules framed there under the said section are quashed". Putting an end to long litigation, the judgment directed the state government to initiate eviction proceedings expeditiously against all such encroachments that were to be covered under the section 163A, preferably on or before February 28, 2026. The dimensions of the encroachments can be measured from the reply of the government which said that there were approximately 57,549 cases of encroachment covering an area of about 1,23,835 bighas of government land. The encroached government land is about 10,320 hectares and in terms of the rules framed under the impugned provision, 1,67,339 applications were received for regularisation up to August 15, 2002 and taking into account the magnitude of encroachments, the high court directed the state government to consider an amendment in the law pertaining to "criminal trespass". The high court clearly stated that any stay granted against removal of encroachment shall stand vacated and also directed the government to make suitable changes in law by amending the relevant Act and rules appropriately to assign duty on the office bearers of Nagar Panchayat, Nagar Parishad and Nagar Nigam as well as executive officer/commissioner concerned to report the encroachment for taking action to remove of encroachment. The HC also instructed the advocate general to transmit the copy of the judgment to the chief secretary of the sate government and all concerned with immediate compliance. Since 1983, successive governments issued various notifications for regularisation of encroachments and the July 4, 1983 notification permitted regularisation up to five bighas on a nominal fee of ₹50 per bigha. Section 163-A was introduced in 2002 during the first tenure of the then chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal to frame rules for regularising encroachments, with the stated objective of helping small and marginal farmers. However, the High Court on Tuesday ruled that the provision was violative of Article 14 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality before law and attempted to legitimise illegal acts. "The impugned provision is in fact legislation for a class of dishonest persons and equality cannot be claimed in illegality," the judgment said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Himachal HC quashes Section 163-A of states Land Revenue Act
Last Updated: Shimla, Aug 5 (PTI) In a major setback to encroachers on government lands, the Himachal Pradesh High Court on Tuesday struck down the section 163-A of Himachal Pradesh Land Revenue Act 1954, allowing regularisation of encroachments on government lands, terming the section as unconstitutional. A division bench of the High Court consisting of Justice Vivek Thakur and Justice Bipin Chander Negi ruled that the 'Section 163-A of HP Land Revenue Act is manifestly arbitrary and unconstitutional and as a consequence the section and the rules framed there under the said section are quashed". Putting an end to long litigation, the judgment directed the state government to initiate eviction proceedings expeditiously against all such encroachments that were to be covered under the section 163A, preferably on or before February 28, 2026. The dimensions of the encroachments can be measured from the reply of the government which said that there were approximately 57,549 cases of encroachment covering an area of about 1,23,835 bighas of government land. The encroached government land is about 10,320 hectares and in terms of the rules framed under the impugned provision, 1,67,339 applications were received for regularisation up to August 15, 2002 and taking into account the magnitude of encroachments, the high court directed the state government to consider an amendment in the law pertaining to 'criminal trespass". The HC also instructed the advocate general to transmit the copy of the judgment to the chief secretary of the sate government and all concerned with immediate compliance. Since 1983, successive governments issued various notifications for regularisation of encroachments and the July 4, 1983 notification permitted regularisation up to five bighas on a nominal fee of Rs 50 per bigha. Section 163-A was introduced in 2002 during the first tenure of the then chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal to frame rules for regularising encroachments, with the stated objective of helping small and marginal farmers. However, the High Court on Tuesday ruled that the provision was violative of Article 14 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality before law and attempted to legitimise illegal acts. 'The impugned provision is in fact legislation for a class of dishonest persons and equality cannot be claimed in illegality," the judgment said. PTI BPL MNK MNK MNK view comments First Published: August 06, 2025, 01:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
370 abrogation anniversary: ‘New J&K' for LG, ‘Black Day' for others
SRINAGAR/JAMMU: The sixth anniversary of Article 370's abrogation drew contrasting responses Tuesday with J&K lieutenant-governor Manoj Sinha asserting the move heralded the 'birth of a new Jammu and Kashmir' and most parties, barring BJP, protesting the 'Black Day'. 'On Aug 5, 2019, dismantling of the terror ecosystem began. The new J&K is one where tears are not shed on deaths of terrorists but tears of common Kashmiris are wiped away,' Sinha said at Srinagar's Sheri Kashmir Convention Centre, handing over 158 job letters to kin of civilians killed by terrorists over the years. The Centre-appointed LG painted a picture of robust security and responsive administration after the abrogation of J&K's special status and statehood as well as the region's conversion into a Union Territory, saying the long wait for justice and healing was over for families of terror victims. 'They (job recipients) have come out to reveal the role of Pakistani terrorists and the terror ecosystem in J&K.' Barely 10km from the convention centre where Sinha spoke, the mood was not as bright as the governing National Conference (NC) and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) decried the abrogation. While the two parties were not permitted to hold public marches, both held protests in their offices. 'This day is a Black Day for us. There should be a restoration of statehood and democratic rights. Even BJP knows it was not a good decision and that's the reason they keep us locked up on this day,' senior NC functionary Salman Sagar said. PDP president and former CM Mehbooba Mufti, also barred from leading a march, echoed the 'Black Day' condemnation. 'J&K has been turned into a laboratory. They subverted the Constitution here and later started similar experiments in other states. You are now seeing the SIR (voter roll revision) exercise in Bihar. I want to tell the people of India their situation could become worse than ours. No one will come to their aid, just like no one is helping us,' Mehbooba said. Peoples Conference chief and MLA Sajad Gani Lone described 'Aug 5 as a brutal reminder of undermining of democracy, an ugly example of selective targeting'. In Jammu, NC, PDP and Congress workers hit the streets. Congress leaders garlanded a statue of the last J&K Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh. Party workers sported black ribbons and raised slogans against the Centre and BJP for delay in restoration of statehood. 'Today's protest is part of our intensified campaign to seek restoration of pride and glory of this historic Dogra state, which was destroyed by BJP on Aug 5, 2019,' J&K Congress working president Raman Bhalla said. Chief party spokesperson Ravinder Sharma accused BJP of undermining the elected NC govt and running the administration through LG Sinha as 'remote control' . If the opposition staged demonstrations, BJP organised celebrations, hailing Aug 5 as a day of 'collective achievement'. J&K BJP chief Sat Sharma told a gathering in Jammu's Akhnoor the abrogation had brought constitutional unity and equal rights. 'This day led to the welfare of neglected and oppressed communities of J&K,' Sharma said.
