Supreme Court directs reevaluation of NEET-UG 2025 candidate after paper sequence error led to mismatched OMR and reduced rank
Supreme Court issues interim order directing reevaluation after major NEET-UG paper sequencing error leaves candidate with mismatched OMR and incorrect scoring.
In a significant interim relief, the Supreme Court of India on August 5, 2025, ordered manual reevaluation of a NEET-UG 2025 candidate’s Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheet after it was revealed that the candidate had received a question paper with a grossly mismatched sequence. The error resulted in a serious discrepancy between the question paper and the OMR sheet, affecting the candidate’s final marks and All India Rank (AIR).
The apex court’s bench, led by Justice C.T. Ravikumar and Justice Manoj Misra, passed the interim order considering the unique factual matrix of the case and its potential impact on the petitioner’s future.
What Went Wrong?
According to the petitioner’s plea, the question paper handed to him on the examination day was not in the prescribed serial order from 1 to 180, which is the standard layout in NEET-UG exams. Instead, the paper had the following jumbled sequence:
- Questions 1 to 27
- Followed by 54 to 81
- Then 28 to 53
- Then 118 to 151
- Followed by 82 to 117
- Ending with 152 to 180
In contrast, the corresponding OMR answer sheet was in the correct serial order from 1 to 180, resulting in a misalignment between the questions and answer bubbles. The candidate contended that the invigilators denied his request for a replacement paper or correction, forcing him to proceed with the mismatched material.
A Question of Fairness and Future
The petitioner’s counsel argued that the error led to a drastic fall in his expected score and rank, severely jeopardizing his chances of admission into a government medical college. It was also submitted that this was not an isolated issue and called into question the overall conduct of the NEET-UG 2025 examination.
Highlighting the principle of natural justice, the Supreme Court bench stated that where a student’s entire academic trajectory is at stake, it is the duty of the court to examine even technical lapses with due seriousness.
Court’s Interim Relief: Manual Reevaluation Ordered
The court’s order directed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct a manual verification of the OMR sheet based on the question paper actually handed to the candidate. If the claim of sequence mismatch is found valid, marks will be re-calculated accordingly.
“The matter requires serious attention and immediate redressal, especially in light of the possible prejudice caused to the candidate,” observed the court in its oral remarks.
The bench also instructed the NTA to submit a detailed report on the sequence anomaly and steps taken to ensure no such mismatches occur in the future.
NEET-UG and NTA Under Scrutiny Again
This development has once again placed the National Testing Agency under a cloud of scrutiny. In recent years, NTA has faced increasing backlash over alleged paper leaks, errors in result processing, and now, technical faults during the actual conduct of the exams.
Civil society groups, student unions, and education experts have raised concerns over the accountability and preparedness of the agency, especially for a high-stakes exam like NEET-UG, which determines admission to undergraduate medical programs across India.
For more background on related cases, check our detailed Insights section and explore the latest legal News.
Legal Observers Welcome the Decision
Legal experts have hailed the Supreme Court’s decision as a progressive move that puts student rights and procedural fairness front and center. Senior advocate Shyam Divan, while not involved in the case, commented that the order reinforces the judiciary’s role in upholding educational integrity.
“The candidate could have been permanently disadvantaged due to an administrative lapse. It is heartening to see the court intervene before irreparable harm is done,” said Divan during a panel discussion on The Legal Observer YouTube Channel.
What’s Next?
The case is now scheduled for final disposal in two weeks, by which time the NTA is expected to furnish its reevaluation report. If the reevaluation results in a higher score, the court may issue directions to revise the petitioner’s All India Rank and ensure appropriate seat allocation during counselling.
As the controversy unfolds, students and parents across the country await with concern — and hope — that NEET-UG 2025 will be corrected, not compromised.
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