CLAT 2026 High Court Hearing Continues Over Revised Merit List Challenges

The Allahabad High Court is currently presiding over a high-stakes legal battle concerning the CLAT 2026 merit list revision. As of February 19, 2026, a Division Bench is reviewing the Consortium of NLUs' appeal against a single-judge order that mandated a recalculation of ranks. This report details the core dispute over Question 9 (Booklet C), the potential impact on the third allotment list, and the security of seats already finalized in previous rounds. Law aspirants are advised to monitor the official Consortium portal for a revised counselling schedule pending the definitive judicial outcome.

The Allahabad High Court has extended the judicial scrutiny into the CLAT 2026 admission cycle as it hears a special appeal filed by the Consortium of National Law Universities (CNLU). As of today, February 19, the Division Bench led by Hon'ble Justice Saumitra Dayal Singh continues to deliberate on the revised merit list mandate that has effectively halted the undergraduate admission process. The legal impasse, categorized under Special Appeal No. 135/2026, stems from a single-judge ruling which found the Consortium’s evaluation of a specific Logical Reasoning question to be "arbitrary." This ongoing court hearing represents a critical juncture for over 75,000 law aspirants, as the final verdict will determine whether the current rankings stand or if a nationwide recalculation of the merit list is required before the third round of counselling can resume.

The Core Dispute: Question 9 and Expert Contradictions

The CLAT 2026 litigation centers on Question No. 9 of Booklet C (Question No. 91 in Master Booklet A). While an Expert Committee initially recommended that two options ('B' and 'D') be considered correct, the Consortium's Oversight Committee overruled this without providing a written justification.

• Expert Committee View: The panel of subject experts concluded that the question was ambiguous, making both options 'B' and 'D' academically valid.
• Oversight Committee Action: The Oversight Committee retained only 'B' as the correct answer. The High Court previously noted that the lack of recorded reasons for this reversal was "contrary to settled law."
• Revised Merit Mandate: The single-bench order directed a full revised merit recalculation, awarding marks to all students who selected either correct option.

Impact on Counselling and Allotted Seats

The court hearing has had an immediate and significant impact on the official counselling schedule. As of February 19, the third seat allotment list, originally scheduled for release on February 5, remains deferred.

• Round 1 and 2 Security: Crucially, both the High Court and the Consortium have confirmed that admissions finalized in the first two rounds remain protected and will not be disturbed by any potential revised merit list.
• Postponement of Round 3: The release of the 3rd UG Admission List for BA LLB programs is currently on hold until further notice from the Division Bench.
• PG Allotments: It is important to note that the CLAT PG (LLM) counselling remains unaffected, with the third merit list already being published as per the original timeline.

Arguments in the Special Appeal

During the latest sessions of the court hearing, the Consortium’s counsel argued that revising the CLAT 2026 merit list mid-cycle would cause "logistical chaos" and prejudice candidates whose ranks might drop.

• Jurisdictional Challenge: The Consortium initially argued that the Allahabad High Court lacked jurisdiction as its headquarters are in Karnataka; however, the court upheld its authority since the exam was conducted within Uttar Pradesh.
• Academic Wisdom: The appellants maintain that courts should not act as an "examiner" and should defer to the final decision of the Oversight Committee in academic assessments.
• Urgent Listing Application: The Consortium has filed an Interlocutory Application (IA/3/2026) seeking an urgent final order to prevent the entire 2026 academic session from being delayed.

Conclusion

As of today, February 19, the CLAT 2026revised merit list row remains the most significant legal hurdle in the history of the National Law Universities. The ongoing court hearing at the Allahabad High Court has placed thousands of aspirants in a state of suspended animation, waiting for clarity on their final NLU allocations. While the judicial process ensures fairness by scrutinizing the "arbitrary" decisions of the Oversight Committee, the administrative delay continues to shorten the time available for the 2026-27 academic session. Aspirants are advised to keep their documents ready and stay updated through the official Consortium of NLUs notifications. Once the pending orders are delivered, the Consortium is expected to release a comprehensive revised schedule for the remaining three rounds of counselling. Until then, the focus remains on the courtroom in Prayagraj, where the balance between academic finality and student justice is being meticulously weighed.

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