Supreme Court Stays Delhi HC Order on CLAT 2025 Merit List Update Amid Question Paper Controversy
- MAHI SINHA
- 1 May 2025
The Supreme Court has stayed the Delhi High Court’s directive asking the Consortium of NLUs to revise the CLAT 2025 merit list due to question paper errors, following a plea by top-ranking candidate Siddhi Sandeep Ladda.
CLAT 2025 Merit List Dispute Reaches Supreme Court
The ongoing controversy surrounding the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2025 took a major turn on April 30, 2025, when the Supreme Court of India stayed the Delhi High Court’s order directing an update to the CLAT UG 2025 merit list.
This interim stay was issued while hearing a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by Siddhi Sandeep Ladda, a top-ranking candidate who appeared for Set A of the exam and secured All India Rank 22.
Delhi High Court Ordered Merit List Revisions for Sets B, C, and D
On April 23, 2025, a division bench of the Delhi High Court, comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, ruled that the Consortium of National Law Universities must revise the CLAT UG 2025 merit list.
The court found four errors in the Sets B, C, and D question papers and directed the awarding of compensatory marks to affected candidates. The Consortium was instructed to update the merit list within four weeks.
However, students who attempted Set A were excluded from this benefit, as the High Court held that there were no errors in Set A.
Petitioner Alleges Unequal Treatment and Files SLP
Aggrieved by the High Court’s selective order, Siddhi Sandeep Ladda approached the Supreme Court, arguing that excluding Set A candidates from receiving compensatory marks created an unfair advantage for others and violated the principle of equal opportunity.
A bench led by Justice B. R. Gavai and Justice A. G. Masih issued a notice on the SLP and stayed the High Court’s directive. The matter is now scheduled for further hearing.
Background – Errors in CLAT 2025 Question Papers Sparked Legal Action
The controversy began on December 1, 2024, the day of the CLAT UG 2025 exam, when several candidates raised concerns about inaccurate questions and answer keys. A Delhi High Court single-judge bench later acknowledged two incorrect answers and ordered a revision of scores for the petitioners.
The Consortium of NLUs appealed the judgment, leading to the April 23 division bench ruling.
In February 2025, the Supreme Court consolidated multiple cases filed across High Courts of India and transferred them to the Delhi High Court for uniform adjudication.
Consortium’s Response and Next Steps
Following the Supreme Court’s stay order, the Consortium of NLUs informed the bench that only six petitioners were directly impacted. The matter was urgently mentioned, and the Supreme Court bench has listed the case for expedited hearing on Monday.
The bench also directed the Consortium to publicly announce on its official website that the Delhi High Court ruling has been challenged in the Supreme Court.
What This Means for CLAT 2025 Aspirants
The final outcome of this legal battle will have significant implications for CLAT 2025 UG admissions, especially for top-ranking candidates. The stay order has temporarily paused any changes to the merit list, and clarity is expected after the Supreme Court’s final ruling.
Key Legal Representatives in the Case
The petitioner, Siddhi Sandeep Ladda, was represented by senior advocates:
Deepak Nargolkar
Soumik Ghoshal (AOR)
Conclusion
The Supreme Court’s intervention in the CLAT 2025 merit list dispute highlights the complexities of ensuring fairness in high-stakes national entrance exams. As legal proceedings continue, thousands of law aspirants await the final word on their admission prospects.
