Madhya Pradesh HC Issues Notice On Plea Challenging CLAT-PG 2025 Answer Key, "Exorbitant Fees" For Raising Objections

The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday (December 23) issued notice to Consortium of National Law Universities asking them to expeditious respond to a plea challenging the answer key of Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) PG 2025 exam. The plea seeks a direction to the respondent to reconsider the hefty fee of Rs. 1000 (per objection) for raising objections to provisional answer key of the exam. It also seeks that the errors in the final answer key be rectified without delay.The division bench of Justice Subodh Abhyankar and Justice Gajendra Singh observed, “Let notice be issued to respondent on payment of process fee within three days' time, returnable within three weeks. Notice may also be issued through Email of the respondent - Consortium of National Law Universities, as provided in the petition.Taking into account the fact that the petitioner is challenging the answers to the certain questions, although he has not raised any objection before the respondent on account of the higher fee of Rs.1,000/- per objection, also challenging the imposition of such higher fee, it is directed that any selection made by the respondent pursuant to the final answer key, shall be subject to the final disposal of this petition.”The present writ petition has challenged the "procedural lapses", Final Answer Key and unequal treatment of candidates during the conduct of the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2025, organized by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) stating that it violates the Right to Equality under Article 14 and Right to Education under Article 21A of the Constitution of India. The plea has been filed by an advocate As per the factual matrix of the case, the Common Law Admission Test was conducted on December 1. Thereafter, the Provisional Answer Key was released on December 2. A portal for raising objections was opened from from 4:00 PM on December 2 to 4:00 PM on December 3 and a fee of ₹1,000 per objection was mandated. The petitioner had earlier filed a Writ Petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India before Hon'ble Supreme Court challenging the conduct of CLAT- PG, 2025 and to the provisional answer key. Thereafter, Final Answer Key was released on December 8 wherein answers to only 8 questions were changed and thereafter the result was declared on the same day. However, on December 9 the the Supreme Court directed the petitioner to move to jurisdictional High Court first. Issuing notice to the respondents the high court said, “Respondent are expected to file their reply expeditiously, so as to avoid any uncertainty in the final select list.”The matter is listed for further hearing on January 8, 2025.Case Title: Ayush Agrawal Vs Consortium Of National Law Universities (Through Its Secretary-Treasurer)Click Here To Read/Download Order

Madhya Pradesh HC Issues Notice On Plea Challenging CLAT-PG 2025 Answer Key, "Exorbitant Fees" For Raising Objections

Anukriti Mishra

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