In a verdict which affects nearly 6.3 lakhs students, the apex court cancelled the AIPMT 2015 and ordered a fresh test within four weeks due to large scale use of unfair means via electronic gadgets thereby accessing the answer keys. The matter had surfaced when a day after the exam, numerous newspapers reported that 90 answer keys had been transmitted to the many candidates during the examination. Rampant use of latest technology (vests fitted with SIM cards) was done to facilitate the transmission. The Division Bench of Justices R K Agrawal and Amitava Roy observed that the examination has become a “suspect” in view of the widespread malpractices and there “cannot be any compromise at any cost.” Despite the difficulty posed and the interests of the stakeholders, the Court held that re-conduct was unavoidable to maintain the impeccable credibility of examination within the said period, in view of the commencement of the new academic session from 1st August, 2015.
The CBSE put forward the argument that it was impossible to re-conduct AIPMT within the stipulated time limit but the Court rejected the same and observed that it ought to ‘’gear up.” Haryana Police was directed to complete its probe in the case with all promptness, which had earlier revealed 44 candidates to be beneficiaries of illegal manoeuvre. The Court further noted that the segregation of such candidates by withholding their results was not a solution and the status reports indicated a nationwide network which had been responsible for producing unmeritorious doctors.
The present case is not one of a minor shortcoming but of deliberate inroads into the framework of the examination. The saving of the same is bound to produce a general feeling of anger and frustration in the student community. Even if, one undeserving candidate, a beneficiary of such illegal machination, though undetected is retained in the process it would be in denial of, the claim of more deserving candidates,” it said.
