NEET-UG 2026 Row: Justice Narasimha-Led Bench to Hear Fresh Challenge in July
The legal battle surrounding NEET-UG 2026 is set to continue, with the Supreme Court on Wednesday indicating that a fresh plea challenging the decision to conduct a re-test for the country's largest medical entrance examination will be heard in July.
The matter came up before a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice V Mohana , which observed that the petition would be placed before a bench headed by Justice P S Narasimha after the apex court resumes its regular functioning following the ongoing period of partial court working days.
The development comes against the backdrop of the controversy that erupted after the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the original NEET-UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3 amid allegations of a paper leak. Following the cancellation, authorities announced a re-test scheduled for June 21, while the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) continues to probe the alleged irregularities.
The fresh petition has sought the quashing of the decision to conduct the re-test and has also requested interim relief in the form of a stay on the examination until the matter is finally adjudicated by the court.
Beyond challenging the re-test itself, the plea raises broader concerns about the conduct of national-level examinations and calls for sweeping reforms in the examination system. It urges the court to direct the Centre and relevant authorities to introduce secure, technology-driven mechanisms for future examinations. These include encrypted digital delivery of question papers, biometric authentication of candidates, AI-assisted monitoring systems and secure computer-based testing infrastructure aimed at preventing leaks and malpractice.
The petition has also sought the constitution of an independent expert committee to examine what it describes as structural, institutional and operational shortcomings within the functioning of the NTA , which conducts several major entrance examinations across the country.
The issue of accountability in the conduct of NEET has already drawn the Supreme Court's attention in related proceedings. While hearing a batch of petitions linked to NEET-UG 2026 on May 29, the court observed that the recurring problems associated with the examination would not end unless "actual accountability" was fixed.
During those proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta , appearing for the Centre, assured the court that the government was treating the concerns of students with utmost seriousness. He stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was personally monitoring the situation to ensure there were no shortcomings in the corrective measures being implemented.
The Centre had also informed the court that several new safeguards and security mechanisms had been introduced ahead of the June 21 re-test to restore confidence in the examination process and protect the interests of lakhs of aspiring medical students.
With multiple petitions already pending before the Supreme Court and fresh challenges continuing to emerge, the NEET-UG controversy remains one of the most closely watched education and legal issues in the country. The July hearing before the Justice Narasimha-led bench is expected to be significant in determining the future course of the examination process and the broader debate on examination reforms in India.