NTA, NMC, education ministry served legal notice over NEET 2026 cancellation
The cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination has reached the legal stage after advocate and judicial activist Shaikh termed NTA’s decision “arbitrary, disproportionate and unconstitutional” and sent a notice under Section 80 of the Civil Procedure Code on behalf of nearly 22 lakh medical aspirants who appeared for the exam held on May 3.
The notice has given the authorities time till May 20 to respond. Failing this, Shaikh said he would file a pro bono Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the proposed re-examination and demanding broader reforms in the functioning of the NTA under judicial supervision.
The NTA had announced the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 on May 12 following allegations of irregularities and malpractice linked to the examination. However, the agency recently announced that re-examination will be held on June 21, 2026.
In the notice, Shaikh questioned the decision to cancel the entire exam without identifying how many candidates or exam centres were actually involved in the alleged malpractice. He argued that innocent students were being punished due to the decision.
He contended that cancelling the entire examination without distinguishing between tainted and untainted candidates amounts to “collective punishment" and violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality before law and the right to life and personal liberty.
As per Odisha Bytes media report, the notice also referred to the Supreme Court’s observations in the NEET-UG 2024 matter, where the court had observed that a systemic breach must be established before an entire examination process is scrapped.
The notice further claims that NTA acted before the completion of any independent investigation, including a possible probe by central agencies, thereby raising concerns over procedural fairness and transparency.
Shaikh in the notice demanded the immediate withdrawal of the cancellation order, declaration of results for unaffected candidates, public disclosure of data related to alleged malpractice, and the creation of a Rs 10 crore relief fund for affected aspirants.
Calling the decision a betrayal of the lakhs of aspirants, the advocate said students from rural and economically weaker backgrounds were suffering because of alleged misconduct by a small group.
