The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed by a NEET-UG 2026 candidate challenging the correctness of answers to six questions in the June 21 re-examination, refusing to interfere with the National Testing Agency's (NTA) declared results and merit list.

A Bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe declined to entertain the writ petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution by Kerala-based candidate Gayatri Arun, who had sought a revised merit list after alleging errors in the official answer key.

The NEET-UG re-examination was conducted on June 21 after the original examination held on May 3 was cancelled following allegations of a paper leak.

The petitioner questioned the official answers to six questions spanning Chemistry, Botany and Zoology, contending that they were inconsistent with the prescribed NCERT textbooks. She argued that even a single incorrect answer could significantly affect a candidate's All India Rank and sought correction of the answer key before the counselling process progressed.

Appearing for the petitioner, counsel argued that the marks awarded on the disputed questions could not be sustained and urged the Court to direct publication of a revised merit list before admissions commenced. The petitioner also sought an independent expert review of the disputed answers, revision of her rank, and protection of her seat during the ongoing admission process.

The Bench, however, found no grounds to intervene.

"Having heard learned counsel for the petitioner and on carefully perusing the material placed on record, we are not inclined to entertain this petition under Article 32 of the Constitution. The Writ Petition is, accordingly, dismissed," the Court said.

The petitioner had earlier approached the Kerala High Court, alleging that technical glitches during the objection process prevented her from uploading supporting material against the disputed answers. She had also requested that the NTA provide a three-day interval between publication of the final answer key and declaration of results.

On July 7, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas dismissed the plea, observing that courts are not equipped to assess the correctness of answer keys and that delaying the declaration of results would adversely affect thousands of candidates.

The decision was subsequently affirmed by a Division Bench of Justices Anil K. Narendran and Muralee Krishna S.

Before the Supreme Court, the petitioner argued that her challenge to the substantive correctness of the answer key was distinct from her earlier procedural challenge concerning the timing of the result declaration. She also pointed out that the NTA had published the final answer key and declared the results on the same day, leaving candidates with no opportunity to challenge the final key before the merit list was finalised.

The Supreme Court, however, remained unconvinced and dismissed the petition, allowing the NTA's final answer key, results, and merit list to stand.

Advocate Sachin Patil appeared for the petitioner.