New Delhi, July 21, 2024 —The Supreme Court of India emphasized on Thursday that any decision to re-conduct the NEET-UG 2024 must be grounded in solid evidence showing that the integrity of the entire examination has been compromised. The bench, comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, stressed the significant social ramifications of such a decision.
Background of NEET-UG 2024 Controversy
NEET-UG 2024, held on May 5, faced allegations of irregularities, including question paper leaks. This led to multiple petitions seeking the cancellation of the exam, a retest, and a court-supervised investigation. The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting the exam, has been under scrutiny, with calls to transfer cases pending in various high courts to the Supreme Court to avoid multiple litigations.
Key Points from the Supreme Court Hearing
July 18, 2024:
- The bench examined two scenarios for the paper leak: one before May 3, when papers were in bank custody, and another on May 5, when papers had left the banks.
- Chief Justice Chandrachud inquired about the number of students who changed examination centers and the center allocation procedure.
- The court directed the NTA to announce NEET-UG results by center and state by July 20, 2024, to ensure transparency. Additionally, the Bihar police and Economic Offences Wing (EOW) were instructed to submit their inquiry reports.
July 11, 2024:
- The hearing was adjourned after petitioners’ counsel requested more time to analyze affidavits from the Centre and NTA. The bench noted that the CBI had submitted its investigative status report.
July 8, 2024:
- The court showed reluctance to order a large-scale retest due to logistical and budgetary constraints. The SC acknowledged the paper leak but sought details on the beneficiaries and actions taken against them.
June 21, 2024:
- The Supreme Court rejected a petition to halt the NEET-UG 2024 counseling process and tagged additional pleas with outstanding petitions.
- The court issued a notice to the NTA, seeking a response to complaints about document leaks and misconduct, emphasizing the need for accountability even in cases of minimal negligence.
Exam and Results Details
NEET-UG 2024 was conducted on May 5 across over 4,000 centers in 571 cities for nearly 24 lakh applicants. A retest for 1,563 applicants was held on June 23, with 813 candidates participating. The regular NEET-UG results were released on June 4, followed by revised results on June 30.
Implications of the Supreme Court’s Decision
The Supreme Court’s directive to the NTA to disclose results by center and state by July 20 aims to ensure transparency and restore trust in the examination process. The continuation of the hearing on July 22 will address the numerous petitions, with the bench considering arguments for cancellation, retests, and investigations into the alleged misconduct.
As the case progresses, the Supreme Court’s decisions will significantly impact the future conduct of national examinations in India, highlighting the importance of integrity and transparency in the educational assessment process.
