The court has also sent notices to the National Testing Agency (NTA), the Central Government, and the Madhya Pradesh West Zone Electricity Distribution Company, asking them to reply within four weeks.
Indore – The Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has put a temporary hold on the declaration of NEET-UG 2024 results after a girl student complained that her exam performance was badly affected due to a power cut during the test.
The popular medical entrance exam was conducted on May 4, the same day when Indore faced heavy power outages caused by bad weather.
The student filed a petition in court asking for a chance to reappear for NEET-UG, saying she was unable to properly attempt the paper due to poor conditions at her exam centre.
While hearing the matter, Justice Subodh Abhyankar granted interim relief to the student. The judge accepted that the power outage had affected the student’s exam performance and also observed that the exam authorities failed to provide a proper testing environment.
In his order, Justice Abhyankar said:
“It is directed that till the next date of the hearing, the result of NEET-UG shall not be declared by the respondents.”
This order can potentially impact more than 21 lakh students across India who appeared for the exam.
The High Court will hear the case again on June 30. Until then, the results of NEET-UG cannot be declared.
The court has also sent notices to the National Testing Agency (NTA), the Central Government, and the Madhya Pradesh West Zone Electricity Distribution Company, asking them to reply within four weeks.
The court noted that despite giving them instructions earlier to present their stand, none of the parties appeared during Thursday’s hearing.
Speaking to Media, the petitioner’s lawyer, Mridul Bhatnagar, said:
“Many centres set up for NEET-UG in Indore did not have generators or other alternative arrangements for electricity, even though the weather department had already issued a warning of thunderstorms in the city on May 4.”
Bhatnagar further explained that when the weather worsened on exam day, electricity supply was cut off for one to two hours in many centres during the three-hour exam. This seriously affected the candidates’ ability to take the test properly.
He added:
“Many centres set up for NEET-UG in Indore did not have generators or other alternative arrangements for electricity, even though the weather department had already issued a warning of thunderstorms in the city on May 4.”
“Due to the sudden power outage, the entrance exam was conducted in candlelight at some centres,” Bhatnagar claimed.
The NEET-UG 2024 results were tentatively expected on June 14, but now the date may get pushed further due to the court’s stay.
