Allahabad High Court Stays Single-Judge Order to Revise CLAT 2026 Merit List
Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs), a Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court has officially stayed the February 3 order that mandated a complete revision of the CLAT-UG 2026 merit list.
In a major relief for the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs), a Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court has officially stayed the February 3 order that mandated a complete revision of the CLAT-UG 2026 merit list. The bench, comprising Justice Saumitra Dayal Singh and Justice Indrajeet Shukla, passed this interim order yesterday, February 20, after the Consortium argued that re-ranking over 70,000 candidates at this advanced stage of counselling would cause "administrative chaos" and prejudice students who have already secured admissions.
To stay updated on when the 3rd Allotment List link goes live on the official portal, follow Only Education News.
The Core of the Dispute: Question 9
The legal battle stems from a specific logical reasoning question (Question 9 in Booklet C).
- The Conflict: An expert committee initially suggested that two options ('B' and 'D') were correct. However, the Consortium's Oversight Committee overruled this, keeping only one valid option without providing a written justification.
- The Single-Judge Verdict: Justice Vivek Saran originally ruled this "arbitrary" and ordered a merit list revision.
- The Current Stay: The Division Bench has now paused this revision, meaning the original answer key remains the standard for the upcoming rounds of admission.
Current Status of CLAT 2026 Counselling
The stay order effectively unfreezes the admission process, which had been at a standstill for nearly two weeks.
| Round | Current Status | Judicial Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 & 2 | Completed | Fully Protected (No changes to admitted students) |
| Round 3 Allotment | Deferred | Expected to release shortly using original ranks |
| Round 4 & 5 | To be Notified | Will proceed as per the original merit list |
What Should Candidates Do Now?
- Check Rankings: Your current rank as displayed on the Consortium portal is valid for the next round of allotment.
- Monitor Official Portal: The 3rd Admission List, which was originally due on February 5, is expected to be published in the final week of February.
- Prepare for 'Float' or 'Freeze': Candidates in the 'Float' category should keep their documents ready, as the seat allotment will now move forward rapidly to catch up with the academic calendar.
What’s Next in Court?
The High Court has scheduled the next hearing for March 9, 2026. While the stay is a temporary victory for the Consortium, the court will eventually decide if the "Oversight Committee" needs to provide more transparency in how they handle disputed questions.
For a detailed analysis of how the 3rd round cut-offs for NALSAR and WBNUJS might shift due to this delay, follow Only Education News.
