By Dr Swati Jindal Garg
Law has emerged as one of the most sought-after careers among India’s youth. For some, it is the zeal to drive social change; for others, the promise of prestige and prosperity. Whatever the motivation, one examination stands at the gateway to that dream: the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT).
For years, CLAT has been the passport to India’s National Law Universities (NLUs), institutions that produce a significant share of the country’s future judges, litigators, policy-makers and constitutional thinkers. Yet, almost as predictably as it is conducted, the examination returns to courtrooms—challenged for technical glitches, ambiguous questions, opaque answer keys and inadequate grievance redressal.
The recent judgment of the Allahabad High Court in Avneesh Gupta (Minor) vs Consortium of National Law Universities has once again placed CLAT under judicial scrutiny. At first glance, it appears to concern a few disputed answers. In reality, it interrogates the integrity of a system that shapes the very officers of India’s courts.
THE BACKGROUND: A RANK IN QUESTION
CLAT UG 2026 was conducted on December 7, 2025 across India, including at centres in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Avneesh Gupta, a minor represented through his guardian, challenged the final answer key released by the Consortium of NLUs. He contended that objections raised to three questions were ignored, resulting in the loss of crucial marks and a lower rank—one that could cost him admission to a top NLU. He sought a writ of mandamus directing the Consortium to:
• Withdraw incorrect questions.
• Award marks for multiple correct options.
• Revise his rank accordingly.
The Consortium responded not only on merits, but also on jurisdiction, arguing that because its headquarters are in Karnataka, the Allahabad High Court lacked territorial authority to entertain the plea. The Court disagreed.
THE CORE ISSUES BEFORE THE COURT
The case raised four central questions:
1. Territorial Jurisdiction: Can a High Court hear a challenge against a body headquartered in another state when the examination was conducted within its territory?
2. Fairness In Evaluation: Were the candidate’s objections to the answer key properly considered?
3. Impact On Admissions: If errors are found, should the merit list be revised—and what of students already admitted?
4. Systemic Integrity: Do recurring disputes point to deeper structural flaws in CLAT’s conduct?
WHAT THE COURT HELD
Justice Vivek Saran, sitting as a single- judge bench, delivered a nuanced ruling.
On jurisdiction
The Court held that territorial jurisdiction is not confined to the respondent’s headquarters. Since CLAT was conducted in Ghaziabad, a part of the cause of action arose in Uttar Pradesh. The Allahabad High Court was therefore competent to hear the matter.
This finding carries national implications: bodies conducting all-India examinations cannot insulate themselves from scrutiny by strategic placement of headquarters.
On the disputed questions
The Court examined three challenged questions.
It declined to interfere with Questions 6 and 13.
However, in respect of Question 9, a logical reasoning problem, it found merit in the argument that both options “B” and “D” were correct.
The Consortium was directed to treat both options as valid answers.
On revising the merit list
The Court ordered revision of the CLAT UG 2026 merit list in light of its findings. Significantly, it clarified that students already admitted in the first round of counselling would not be disturbed. This careful calibration ensured justice to the petitioner without destabilising the admissions process.
CLAT’S TROUBLED HISTORY IN COURTROOMS
The Allahabad decision is not an isolated episode:
Siddhi Sandeep Ladda vs Consortium of NLUs (2025)
The Supreme Court described the conduct of CLAT as “casual” and criticised the handling of candidate grievances.
Earlier Interventions
• 2018: The Supreme Court examined petitions arising from technical glitches and server crashes during the online exam.
• 2020: The Court stressed transparency in handling objections to answer keys, noting that a single mark can alter a career trajectory.
• Accessibility Cases: The Court has repeatedly reminded the Consortium of its constitutional duty to ensure equal access for differently-abled candidates.
Taken together, these cases reflect a pattern: recurring litigation over a national examination meant to reflect merit and excellence.
THE FEDERAL QUESTION: ACCOUNTABILITY ACROSS STATES
The Consortium’s jurisdictional objection revealed a deeper tension in federal adjudication. By arguing that only Karnataka courts could hear challenges, it sought to centralise accountability.
The High Court’s rejection of this stance reinforces a crucial principle: national bodies operating nationwide must remain answerable nationwide.
For students appearing in Ghaziabad, Guwahati or Guntur, justice cannot be geographically distant.
INDIVIDUAL JUSTICE VS INSTITUTIONAL STABILITY
Educational litigation presents a delicate dilemma. Courts must correct injustice without unleashing administrative chaos.
The Allahabad High Court’s approach—revising the merit list while protecting students already admitted—demonstrates judicial pragmatism. It affirms that fairness need not come at the cost of systemic collapse.
IS CLAT STRUCTURALLY FLAWED?
Repeated judicial interventions suggest deeper concerns:
• Ambiguously framed questions.
• Inconsistent or opaque objection mechanisms.
• Delayed or inadequate expert review.
• Overcentralisation of authority within the Consortium.
By contrast, global standardised tests such as the SAT or LSAT operate with layered quality checks and transparent objection systems. Judicial oversight in India has become a corrective mechanism—but courts cannot substitute for institutional reform.
THE WAY FORWARD
Meaningful reform must go beyond case-by-case corrections:
1. Independent Oversight: Establish a regulatory or supervisory body distinct from the Consortium.
2. Transparent Objection Review: Publish reasoned decisions on every answer-key challenge.
3. Rigorous Question Vetting: Implement multi-layered expert scrutiny before finalisation.
4. Robust Technological Infrastructure: Minimise glitches through stronger digital systems.
5. Continuous Accountability: Judicial review should remain a safeguard, not a recurring necessity.
CONCLUSION: MORE THAN ONE RANK
The ruling in Avneesh Gupta is not merely about one student’s admission prospects. It is about the credibility of a system that selects future officers of the court.
When an entrance examination falters, the ripple effect extends far beyond campus gates. It touches the integrity of the legal profession itself.
The judiciary has once again nudged the Consortium towards reform. Whether that nudge becomes meaningful change remains to be seen.
—The author is an Advocate-on-Record practising in the Supreme Court, Delhi High Court and all district courts and tribunals in Delhi
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