CLAT 2025: Supreme Court moots transfer of cases to a single High Court

The Supreme Court on Wednesday prima facie expressed readiness to transfer cases related to results of the Common Law Admission Test 2025 (CLAT-UG) from various High Courts to one single High Court. .It also said that it was not inclined to transfer the cases to itself as requested by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLU Consortium) but would instead consider transferring all cases to one single High Court. Karnataka, Delhi and Punjab and Haryana High Courts may be considered for the same."We can’t take it here, we already rejected under Article 32. We will send you to a High Court," the Court remarked.The Court explained that the transfer of these cases to a single High Court would help in deciding these matters faster and avoid contradictory judgments. .Pertinently, the Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar also remarked that if the questions or answers are clearly incorrect, courts are well within their right to interfere."When the questions and answers are clearly wrong, courts will interfere," the Bench said.Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, appearing for NLU Consortium, asked whether all cases could be transferred to the Karnataka High Court, if it is not being transferred to the Supreme Court."I bow down, it should be one High Court. Can it be the High Court in Bangalore?" he requested.The Court then pointed out that the first such petition was filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. It initially expressed a prima facie view that the matter should, therefore, be transferred to the Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which is already seized of such cases. However, on a request by other counsel, the Court said that it would take a call later on which High Court should hear the matter."Which Court would you suggest," the Bench had asked."Punjab and Haryana High Court or Karnataka High Court," SG Mehta replied."Delhi High Court (would be better)," another counsel said.It was further pointed out that a single-judge Delhi High Court had already passed a judgment on the issue and appeals against the same were pending before a Division Bench of the High Court."Madhya Pradesh and Bombay High Courts have said outcome of petition will govern results. Other High Courts have not even said that," a counsel further added.The Court eventually did not take a call on this aspect but will consider it during the next hearing.The Court proceeded to issue notice to all respondents and posted the matter for hearing on February 3..Petitions concerning CLAT UG exam are pending before Delhi, Rajasthan and Punjab and Haryana High Courts.On December 20, single-judge Justice Jyoti Singh of the High Court had partly allowed the plea filed by the 17-year-old CLAT candidate Aditya regarding certain errors alleged in the paper for undergraduate admissions to National Law Universities (NLUs).Justice Singh had concluded that there were clear errors in two out of five questions flagged by the CLAT candidate. The single-judge opined that the Court cannot take a hands-off approach when such clear errors are made out.It had, therefore, directed the Consortium of NLUs to announce revised results after making changes in the award of marks with regard to these two questions..This ruling came to be challenged before the Division Bench of the High Court by both the NLU Consortium as well as Singh on whose petition the December 20 ruling was passed.The NLU Consortium's argument was that the single-judge had wrongly donned the hat of an expert and should not have interfered with exam answers that were finalised by experts. Meanwhile, Singh's appeal sought to modify the single-judge ruling to a limited extent. As per his plea, the single-judge ordered corrections for only two out of the five errors flagged by him. He has contended that there are 'blatant mistakes' in three more questions and hence, corrections with respect to these three questions as well.However, the NLU Consortium later moved the Supreme Court seeking the transfer of the matter to the top court..Besides, the UG exam, CLAT PG exam has also been mired in controversy over incorrect answer keys.The PG exam results are under challenge before the Madhya Pradesh High Court and the Bombay High Court..[Read Live Coverage below]