Plea Filed in Delhi High Court Against CAT 2024 Results

A petition challenging the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2024 results has been filed in the Delhi High Court, raising significant concerns about the transparency and fairness of the examination process. The CAT is a critical entrance exam for admission to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top business schools across India.

Background of the Case [Aditya Kumar Mallick v/s Union Of India And Anr]

The petition, filed by Aditya Kumar Mallick through Advocate Praveen Kumar Singh of Lex Remedium, alleges discrepancies in the provisional and final answer keys for the CAT 2024 exam, conducted on November 24 by IIM Calcutta. The provisional answer key was released on December 3, followed by the results on December 19.

The petitioner contends that despite raising objections supported by expert opinions, no corrections were made to the provisional answer key. The aspirant specifically pointed out an alleged error in the comprehension section of the exam paper. According to the plea, a total of 272 objections were submitted by various candidates, highlighting potential inaccuracies in the answer key.

Concerns Over Hastened Results

The petition argues that the results were announced prematurely, surprising candidates who expected them in the second week of January 2025. The petitioner claims this haste denied candidates the opportunity to seek appropriate legal remedies and “speaks volumes” about the evaluation process.

Demands in the Petition

The petitioner has urged the Delhi High Court to:

1. Set aside the CAT 2024 results declared on December 19.
2. Establish an Expert Committee to review the contested answers and ensure accuracy in evaluation.

Court Proceedings

The matter was initially heard on December 24 by a bench led by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, who sought responses from the Union Ministry of Education and IIM Calcutta. However, during a brief hearing today before a vacation bench comprising Justices Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, Tara Vitasta Ganju, and Anish Dayal, it was noted that the responses were yet to be filed.

The court has scheduled the next hearing for January 3, 2025, to deliberate further on the matter.

Implications for Aspirants

The case has drawn significant attention from CAT aspirants, faculty members, and coaching institutes, with many voicing concerns about the fairness and transparency of the evaluation process. If the High Court rules in favour of the petitioner, it could lead to a re-evaluation of results and set a precedent for handling grievances in competitive examinations.