Supreme Court to Hear Urgent NEET UG 2026 OMR Sheet Dispute on October 15

The Supreme Court of India has agreed to conduct an urgent hearing on October 15 regarding a petition challenging an OMR answer sheet from the NEET UG 2026 examination. The decision follows concerns raised by the petitioner that the National Testing Agency (NTA) might destroy original examination records once the mandatory 90-day retention period concludes.

The matter was brought before the court on October 14, where the petitioner’s counsel requested an expedited review to ensure that critical evidence is preserved. While the Chief Justice of India initially suggested a later date, the court ultimately agreed to list the case for Thursday, October 15, before a bench led by Justice PS Narasimha after the counsel emphasized the time-sensitive nature of the document retention policy.

Background of the Legal Challenge

The legal dispute centers on a candidate who has contested the accuracy of their OMR answer sheet. Prior to approaching the Supreme Court, the candidate sought relief through the Gujarat High Court, where an intra-court appeal was dismissed by a Division Bench on October 12. Following that decision, the petitioner moved to the Supreme Court to seek further judicial intervention.

The primary argument presented by the petitioner is that the original OMR sheets and related examination records are essential for resolving the dispute regarding the evaluation process and the candidate’s recorded responses. There is a significant concern that if these documents are destroyed in accordance with the NTA’s 90-day retention rule, it would become substantially more difficult to verify the claims made by the candidate.

Court Proceedings and Next Steps

During the initial mention of the case, the Supreme Court bench inquired about the procedural history, specifically asking for the timeline of the examination and the subsequent legal filings. The petitioner’s counsel confirmed that the candidate had exhausted other legal remedies before bringing the matter to the apex court.

It is important to note that the court’s decision to grant an urgent hearing does not imply that the allegations regarding the OMR sheet have been validated or that the court has reached a conclusion on the merits of the case. The upcoming hearing on October 15 will provide the court with an opportunity to review the petitioner's submissions and address the concerns regarding the preservation of examination records. The final determination on the dispute will depend on the arguments presented during the scheduled proceedings.