AYUSH AGRAWAL Vs. CONSOTIUM OF NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITIES

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Present batch of writ petitions have been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, 1950, seeking direction to the respondent/Consortium of National Law Universities (hereinafter referred to as 'Consortium') to rectify the errors in the final answer key of the Common Law Admission Test, PG (hereinafter referred to as 'CLAT PG') for the year 2024-25, and to re-issue the results after the necessary corrections. The petitioners further seek direction to the Consortium to re-consider the excessive fee of Rs.1,000.00 per question for raising the objection to the provisional answer key of the CLAT PG examination.

(2.) The petitioners have challenged certain questions which were part of the CLAT PG for the year 2024-25. At the outset it may be noted that the petitioners had not submitted objections to these questions, which are subject matter of the writ petitions, before the competent authority i.e. 'examination conducting authority' during the window period which was open for lodging of such objections. The petitioners have submitted that on account of excessive fee to the extent of Rs.1000.00 per question which is sought to be objected to, the excessive fee was subject matter of a challenge by way of a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India, 1950 before the Supreme Court in W.P.(C).No. 812/2024 titled 'Anam Khan and Anr. vs. Consortium of National Law Universities'. They contend that since the challenge itself was made to the fee on the ground of it being highly disproportionate and excessive, the petitioners herein were unable to lodge their objection with the competent authority within the window period.

(3.) In view of the aforesaid submissions, we deem it appropriate to proceed with examining the issues on (i) the decision on the questions objected to; and (ii) the issue as to whether the fee of Rs.1000.00 per question objected to, is excessive.