Review Petition : NEET UG 2024 Examination
A group of medical students recently filed a review petition challenging the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss their writ petition, which sought to cancel the NEET UG 2024 examination.
Review Petition:
- When a judgment is passed by a court, the doctrine of functus officio applies to it.
- This Latin doctrine means that if the judgment in a case has been pronounced or an order has been made following due process of law, in such circumstances, the case cannot be reopened.
- The right to file a review petition is an exception to this doctrine.
- The word “review” means to examine again.
- Article 137 of the Constitution gives the Supreme Court the power to review any of its judgments or orders.
- The court has the power to review its rulings to correct a “patent error” and not “minor mistakes of inconsequential import”.
- Similarly, High Courts have also been given the power to review their judgments under Article 226 of the Constitution.
- However, it can only be invoked when there is a breach of law or violation of the Constitution.
- Grounds for review petition: In a 2013 ruling, the Supreme Court itself laid down three grounds for seeking a review of a verdict it has delivered.
- The discovery of new and important matter or evidence which was not within the knowledge of the petitioner or could not be produced by him; mistake or error apparent on the face of the record; or any other sufficient reason, which means a reason that is analogous to the other two grounds.
