SC Verdict Reshapes CLAT 2025: Marks to Be Revised for Five Key Questions

Five Questions: CLAT 2025 Master Question Booklet for Reference

Question no 56

This was a question of fundamental duty to protect the environment. The Delhi High Court earlier refused to interfere with this question. However, the top Court expressed its surprise over the answer given by the consortium in the final answer key. It has already been held in previous cases that the duty to protect the environment is on both the state and its citizens. So, answers C and D are correct, and the marks will be revised accordingly.

Question no. 77

The Delhi High Court considered this question “out of syllabus” and accordingly directed the consortium to withdraw it. However, this decision has been reversed by the Supreme Court, which opined that if the students apply reason and logic, it is possible to decide what is a voidable contract and what is a void contract. So, the correct answer will be Option B in the master question booklet.

Question no. 88

This was a question on the sitting arrangement with answer options including data inadequate. The court has ordered the deletion of this question. Previously, the division bench of the Delhi High Court accepted the recommendations of the oversight committee on this question and refused to interfere.

On this matter, the Delhi High Court single judge had directed the consortium to withdraw the question on December 20. This decision has now been reaffirmed after a division bench first upheld it, and then another Delhi High Court bench on April 06, refused to interfere.

Questions no. 115 and 116

On question number 115 of the CLAT master question paper, the top Court upheld the Delhi High Court order asking the consortium to withdraw it. Whereas, on question number 116, again the SC changed the Delhi High Court direction, giving full marks to students with SET B, C and D and imposing negative markings in the evaluation of students who took SET A of the question paper. Revising this decision, the Court has asked the consortium to withdraw this question as well.

Inconsistent Judgments and Final Resolution

The cases around CLAT 2025 results have completed a full circle, starting from the Supreme Court to various high courts and now, back in the apex court for final resolution.

There were three judgments on CLAT 2025 results, often contradicting each other and at times upholding each other in some questions. However, an overall assessment of all these CLAT judgments reveals a lot of inconsistencies. For example, on question number 56, the Delhi High Court ignored the fact that the top court has upheld that the duty to protect the environment lies with both the state and citizens. On question number 77, the Supreme Court reversed the stance taken by the Delhi High Court.

The decision on question number 88 of the CLAT master question booklet was changed thrice. First, on December 20, a Single Judge asked the consortium to delete the question, which was reversed by the Delhi High Court in the April 06 hearing. And, now again, the Supreme Court reverses the Delhi HC decision aligning with the single-judge verdict.

Since the Supreme Court is the final court of appeal, with no higher judicial office above it, the CLAT 2025 judgment of May 07 appears final. The consortium is now likely to revise the CLAT merit list very soon. The admission schedule of NLUs will be announced afresh.