Supreme Court of India has dismissed a plea seeking a court-monitored and time-bound investigation into the alleged leak of the CLAT 2026 question paper and answer key prior to the examination. The Court declined to interfere, noting that the examination process had already concluded. The petition had sought directions for a fresh examination if allegations of a paper leak were found to be true. However, the Court found no reason to entertain the plea at the present stage.
Supreme Court Observations on CLAT 2026 Examination
The matter was heard by a bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe. The bench observed that the CLAT 2026 examination had already been conducted on December 7, 2025, and questioned the necessity of judicial intervention after completion of the exam process. Justice Narasimha remarked that intervention would have been more appropriate before the declaration of results, rather than after the examination had concluded.
Delay in Filing the Petition Highlighted
The Court also took note of the delay in approaching the judiciary. As per the plea, the alleged leak occurred on December 6, 2025, nearly 15 hours before the examination. Justice Alok Aradhe questioned why the petitioners waited until December 16, 2025 to file the plea, despite claiming awareness of the alleged leak on December 6. The bench indicated that such delay weakened the urgency of the petition.
Allegations Raised by Petitioners
The plea was filed by a group of CLAT aspirants belonging to Scheduled Caste, Other Backward Class, and Economically Weaker Section categories. The petitioners alleged that images and messages circulating online suggested that some individuals had access to the CLAT 2026 question paper in exchange for payment. According to the petitioners, these materials indicated that the sanctity of the examination had been compromised, affecting the principle of a level playing field in a national competitive examination.
Reference to Consortium Grievance Mechanism
The petition also referred to the grievance redressal mechanism set up by the Consortium of National Law Universities, chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice MR Shah. It was alleged that although multiple complaints were raised through this portal, no enquiry report or clarification was issued. The petitioners contended that the absence of transparency in addressing grievances further aggravated concerns regarding the alleged leak.
Supreme Court’s Final Decision
After considering the submissions, the Supreme Court declined to order a court-monitored investigation or any re-examination. The bench concluded that since the CLAT 2026 examination process had already concluded, judicial intervention at this stage was not warranted. The dismissal brings legal closure to the plea challenging the integrity of the CLAT 2026 examination process.
