New Delhi, August 11
The Supreme Court today stayed the Punjab and Haryana High Court order quashing the results of this year’s Pre-Medical Entrance Test (PMET) conducted by Guru Nanak Dev University and directing re-framing of answers.

A three-judge Bench, headed by Mr Justice Y.K. Sabhharwal, granted the stay on the High Court order after petitioner’s counsel Manjeet Khosla and senior advocate Mukul Rohtagi made a special mention of the filing of the SLP against the directive issued by the High Court.

While quashing the results, the High Court had directed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to reframe answers to all 200 questions following complaints of large-scale cheating in the PMET, with at least 37 students accused of using unfair means and attaining higher ranks.

The matter was investigated by the State Vigilance Bureau.

But the 37 candidates had moved the High Court, claiming that they were being harassed on wrong premise of resorting to unfair means.

Aggrieved by the High Court order, an SLP was moved today by Ms Khosla on behalf of Harmandeep Singh and other students, contending that such a directive would jeopardise the chances of those successful students who had worked hard throughout the year and passed the test honestly.

The counsel said honest students should not be penalised for the act of some undesirable elements, who allegedly had indulged in unfair practice.

The PMET was held by the university for admission to 2,600 seats in MBBS, BDS, BAMS and homoeopathic courses in different institutions in the state.

The university also moved an appeal against the High Court order.

Rohtagi said the High Court directive would not only affect honest students adversely, but delay the entire admission process. He said the petitioners before the High Court had misrepresenting the facts to obtain such an order.