NEET UG 2026 | Supreme Court Dismisses Plea Challenging NEET Retest As Infructuous

The Supreme Court today(July 15) dismissed a writ petition challenging the National Testing Agency's (NTA) decision to cancel and re-conduct NEET-UG 2026 for nearly 22 lakh candidates as infructuous.

A bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe told the counsel appearing for the petitioner that since the examination has already taken place, the issue doesn't survive. The counsel, however, mentioned that they have also sought institutional reforms within the NTA. She requested that the matter may be tagged with other pending petitions raising larger issues on NEET examination.

Justice Narasimha orally told the counsel that the petitioner can intervene in the other batch of petitions (seeking NTA reforms).    

It may be recalled that the petition was filed challenging the decision of the NTA to cancel the NEET-UG test held in May 2026 over paper leak, and to re-conduct the same on June 21.

The petition was filed by former Assistant Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Mangala Kohli, who challenged the NTA's decision to cancel the NEET 2026, which was conducted on May 3, 2026, and to hold a fresh examination nationwide following allegations of a paper leak and examination malpractice. The petition contended that a blanket cancellation of the examination and a nationwide re-test unfairly penalises lakhs of bona fide candidates who had no connection with the alleged irregularities.

“The Petitioner submits that while allegations concerning paper leaks and examination malpractice are serious and require strict investigation and exemplary action against every person involved, the constitutional rights and legitimate interests of lakhs of bona fide candidates cannot be sacrificed owing to institutional and administrative failures attributable to the examination conducting authority itself”, the plea stated.

It was argued that the alleged malpractice, based on material disclosed during the investigation, appeared to be confined to identified persons, centres and organised networks rather than the entire examination process. The petition contends that the decision to order a re-examination is arbitrary, excessive and disproportionate, violating Articles 14, 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Constitution.

The petition further seeks structural and technological reforms in the conduct of national-level competitive examinations. Among other reliefs, it seeks directions for implementation of secure digital examination and evaluation systems, including encrypted digital question delivery, biometric authentication, AI-assisted monitoring and computer-based examination infrastructure. It also seeks the constitution of an independent expert committee to examine institutional and operational deficiencies within the NTA. 

Case Details: MANGALA KOHLI v UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.|W.P.(C) No. 753/2026