The fate of the All-India Pre Medical and Pre-Dental Test 2015 hangs in the balance as Supreme Court on Monday sought the Centre’s reply on whether the examination should be annulled on account of answer keys being leaked at some of the examination centres. The Vacation Bench of Justices AK Sikri and UU lalit on Monday issued notices to the Centre, Central Board of Secondary Education and Haryana Government on a petition filed by a Faridabad-based student Tanvi Sarwal and fixed the pleas for hearing on Thursday.
It was a special team of Haryana Police which arrested nine persons on the date of examination held on May 3 who were wearing specially designed vests with inbuilt SIM cards and Bluetooth earpieces used to communicate with masterminds who leaked answer keys to candidates willing to pay sums of Rs15-20 lakh. The gang had leaked 90 answer keys to students before they were caught at the examination centres.
The petition, argued by advocate Prashant Bhushan, pointed out that based on media reports it has come to light that the paper leak could extend to other States such as UP, Bihar and Rajasthan as the modus operandi adopted by the arrested criminals showed similarity with paper leak of AIIMS post-graduate examination in 2012.
The petition stated that any “counseling/admission” on the basis of alleged “vitiated examination” will violate Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution with respect to genuine candidates. It said even the police, investigating the case, has suggested cancellation of the examination in the interests of justice to the genuine candidates.