Overview The Supreme Court on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 , dismissed a petition seeking a court-monitored investigation into the alleged leak of the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 question paper. The petition was filed following concerns that the examination's integrity had been compromised. Key Developments Court Decision: A Bench comprising Justices P. S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe declined to entertain the plea. Timing of Petition: The court questioned why the petitioners had not approached the apex court before the declaration of results on December 16, 2025 . Allegations: The petition, filed by law aspirants from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, alleged that screen recordings and screenshots of the CLAT 2026 question paper began circulating on social media platforms around 10:15 p.m. on December 6, 2025 . Examination Details: The CLAT 2026 was held on December 7, 2025 , in offline mode between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. at 156 centers across 25 States and 4 Union Territories . Organizing Body: The examination was conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities (CNLUs) , established in 2017 . Participation: According to the consortium, 92,344 candidates applied for the examination, competing for just over 3,500 undergraduate seats and around 1,500 postgraduate seats across the NLUs . Arguments Presented Petitioners' Claims: The petition contended that the alleged leak had compromised the sanctity of the examination and vitiated the level-playing field. Circulating Material: Screenshots and videos circulating on Telegram groups included claims by individuals that they had accessed the question paper before the examination, suggesting an organized leak. Grievance Redressal: The aspirants pointed out that grievances raised through the consortium's portal concerning the alleged leak had remained unaddressed. Court's Observations The Bench questioned why the apex court had not been approached before the declaration of results. The court noted that had the petition been filed before the declaration of results, it would have been more receptive to the plea. UPSC Relevance This news is relevant to GS2 (Governance, Polity, and Social Justice) . It highlights issues related to the integrity of public examinations, the role of the judiciary in addressing grievances, and the importance of fair and transparent processes in competitive exams. Key Terms for UPSC CLAT: Common Law Admission Test, a national-level entrance examination for law programs. CNLUs: Consortium of National Law Universities, the body responsible for conducting CLAT. Judicial Review: The power of the judiciary to review actions of other branches of government. Fundamental Rights: Basic human rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Grievance Redressal: Mechanisms for addressing complaints and resolving issues.