The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the National Testing Agency (NTA), University Grants Commission (UGC), and other respondents following a petition filed by Abdul Warish Sheikh, a NET Political Science candidate. Represented by advocates Shailendra Singh, Ujjawal Gaur, Saurabh Dwivedi, Ajit, and Amit, Sheikh’s petition challenges the accuracy of certain answers in the final NET answer key, which he claims affects the fairness of his evaluation.
Disputed Question on IIM Indore Establishment Year
The petition focuses on a specific question in the Political Science paper, identified as ID 53307217164. The question asked: “The Indian Institute of Management, Indore, was set up during:”
Options:
Eighth Five Year Plan
Ninth Five Year Plan
Tenth Five Year Plan
Eleventh Five Year Plan
The Petitioner chose Option 1 (Eighth Five Year Plan) as the answer, after confirming through factual verification that IIM Indore was established in 1996, aligning with the Eighth Five Year Plan (1992-1997), as verified by the official websites of IIM Indore and NITI Aayog. Sheikh asserts that his correctly marked answer was marked incorrect in the final key, potentially affecting the results of numerous candidates.
Court Proceedings and Next Steps
In the November 8, 2024, hearing, presided over by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, notices were accepted by counsel for the respondents. Justice Kaurav approved an exemption application and directed the petitioner to notify respondent no.3 through all available means. The court has scheduled the next hearing for December 5, 2024.
Implications for Fair Evaluation and Answer Key Accuracy
The petition underscores the necessity of robust and transparent evaluation processes to handle disputes fairly. The upcoming hearing will likely examine the petitioner’s claims, reflecting the judiciary’s focus on maintaining fair and precise assessment standards for all examinees.
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