Can court take hands off approach if CLAT answer key has errors? Delhi High Court asks

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday observed that while courts are expected to adopt a 'hand-off' approach when it comes to the conduct of exams like the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), they may have to interfere if there are clear errors in exam questions..Justice Jyoti Singh was dealing with a petition by a 17-year-old law aspirant who has alleged that there were errors in the final answer key released by the NLU Consortium for CLAT 2025 (UG), which determines admissions to undergraduate law courses in National Law Universities (NLUs) across India. The NLU Consortium has opposed the plea, arguing that three expert committees have already examined objections to the answer key. The Consortium's counsel argued that the Court cannot supplant its view in the matter.The Court acknowledged this concern, but added that even the Supreme Court has held that courts may interfere in such cases in certain scenarios. "Yes, in a judicial review, courts have to adopt hands off approach. But in a number of judgments, (there is a view that) when answers to questions are demonstrably, (palpably) wrong, not interfering would be injustice to the candidates," Justice Singh said..The judge added that she tried solving some of the questions under dispute and found that there was a clear answer to a question in which "data inadequate" was chosen as the correct answer by the exam committee. The remaining three options were wrong answers. The judge observed that the options should ideally have included either a "none of the above" option or the correct answer ("Sohan")."The answer should have been 'Sohan.' (If not) that answer is 'none of the above' ... I did this (examine the question paper) last night ... I understand hands off approach, that I can't sit and analyse. But it took me 30 seconds to understand it (the right answer) was supposed to be Sohan. It is no rocket science," she said. .The NLU Consortium's counsel replied that there are shades of gray when it comes to answers sometimes, and that a candidate is expected to choose an answer closest to the right answer if there are no straight answers.The Court, however, said that there is a distinction between questions that have no straight answers and questions where all options given are wrong answers. If all given answers are incorrect, candidates cannot be expected to tick the 'closest' answer, the judge added. "If all the answers are incorrect, you have to give benefit to the candidate," she said. .Meanwhile, the NLU Consortium's counsel also raised concern that the entire NLU admission process may get affected if the Court interferes in the matter. He added that this was not a case where the petitioner-student has not made the cut-off for admission to an NLU, although he may be looking to increase his rank.The counsel asked whether the Delhi High Court should entertain the matter in such a scenario, particularly since it affects students across India. Hearing in the matter will continue tomorrow at 2.30 PM. The petition before the Court has been filed through advocate Arjeet Gaur..[Live Coverage]