'SC judgement on AIPMT is a blow to all Munnabhais of India': lawyer

Hailing the decision by the Supreme Court to set aside the All India Pre Medical Test (AIPMT) entrance exam, advocate for the petitioner Pushp Gupta on Monday said this ruling will ensure that deserving candidates do not miss out due to the 'Munnabhais' of India, in reference to the Sanjay Dutt-starrer.

"The court has allowed our petition, wherein we had sought the prayer that the AIPMT exam be cancelled. They have allowed the petition with a direction to the CBSE to conduct it within four weeks, so it is a big win for the students who have worked day and night for this," Gupta told ANI.

"I am thankful and grateful to the honourable court - they have informed the Munnabhais that they have no place in the education system," she added.

Meanwhile, the parents present at the apex court expressed their happiness at the verdict and said that their faith in the judiciary has been repaid.

"Hats off to the judiciary, hats off to the Supreme Court. This is a victory for all students who burnt the midnight oil," one parent said.

"This is not the only medical exam where cheating was rampant. It is time that the government works with educationalists to find a way to conduct a fair exam," said another parent.

Earlier in the day, the apex court set aside the AIPMT entrance exam and directed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to re-conduct the exam in four weeks.

The ruling comes after petitioners sought the re-conducting of the AIPMT following the leak of the question paper and the circulation of answers at examination centres across 10 states.