New Delhi, June 15: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Supreme Court challenging the decision of the National Testing Agency (NTA) to cancel and re-conduct the NEET-UG 2026 examination for approximately 22 lakh candidates following allegations of a paper leak. The petition has been filed by Dr. Mangala Kohli, former Assistant Director General of Health Services (DGHS), under Article 32 of the Constitution.

The petition contends that while allegations of examination malpractice and paper leaks warrant a thorough investigation and strict action against those involved, the decision to order a nationwide re-examination is arbitrary, excessive, and disproportionate. According to the plea, the material disclosed through official investigations indicates that the alleged malpractice was confined to identified individuals, examination centres, and organized networks rather than the entire examination process.

Challenge to Nationwide Re-Test

NEET-UG 2026 was conducted on May 3, 2026, for admissions to MBBS, BDS, and allied medical courses across India, with nearly 22 lakh candidates appearing for the examination. The petition states that lakhs of students had spent years preparing for the examination and that compelling them to sit for another test would impose severe academic, mental, and financial burdens on candidates who had no involvement in the alleged irregularities.

Dr. Kohli argues that the NTA's decision violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law and protection of life and personal liberty. The plea asserts that constitutional principles of fairness and proportionality require authorities to identify tainted candidates and affected centres rather than impose collective consequences on the entire candidate population.

Investigation Points to Localized Network, Says Plea

The PIL relies on disclosures made during investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which reportedly led to arrests in Jaipur, Gurugram, Nashik, Pune, and Ahilyanagar. According to the petition, official statements suggest that individuals associated with the confidential examination process allegedly misused their access to question papers and circulated examination content through intermediaries and coaching networks.

The plea highlights that the investigation has identified specific accused persons and organized networks, including individuals allegedly connected to the examination process. It argues that these disclosures point toward a localized operational compromise rather than evidence of nationwide contamination of the examination.

Call for Structural Reforms

Beyond challenging the re-test decision, the petition raises broader concerns regarding recurring allegations of examination leaks and irregularities in NEET and other large-scale competitive examinations. It argues that repeated controversies have eroded public confidence in the examination system and exposed systemic vulnerabilities within the NTA.
The PIL seeks a series of institutional and technological reforms, including:

• Establishment of an independent expert committee to examine structural and operational deficiencies within the NTA;

• Adoption of secure digital examination and evaluation mechanisms;

• Encrypted digital question paper delivery systems;

• Biometric authentication of candidates;

• AI-assisted monitoring and surveillance systems;

• Secure computer-based examination infrastructure; and

• Enhanced oversight and exclusion of compromised personnel and examination networks from future examinations.

The petition further advocates for the introduction of independent oversight mechanisms and stronger security safeguards at identified high-risk centres to prevent future instances of organized malpractice.

Reliefs Sought

The petitioner has requested the Supreme Court to quash the NTA's decision directing the nationwide re-conduct of NEET-UG 2026 and to stay the proposed re-examination pending adjudication of the case. The plea also seeks directions for comprehensive reforms aimed at ensuring fairness, transparency, and integrity in national-level competitive examinations.

The matter raises significant questions regarding the balance between preserving examination integrity and protecting the rights of bona fide candidates, and is likely to have far-reaching implications for the conduct of national entrance examinations in India.