Today, On 18th June, Rahul Gandhi questions PM Modi’s ‘silence’ after the Supreme Court criticized the NTA over the NEET controversy. The NEET exam, taken by 2.4 million students on May 5, faced allegations of a paper leak soon after the results were announced on June 4. Notably, 67 students achieved perfect scores of 720/720, and grace marks were allegedly awarded to some students to compensate for time lost at exam centers.
New Delhi: After the Supreme Court’s censure of the National Testing Agency regarding the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-UG 2024 (NEET) controversy, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “staying silent on the matter.”
Rahul Gandhi took to X to express his concerns in Hindi, stating,
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as usual, remains silent on the issue of over 24 lakh students’ futures being jeopardized by the NEET exam scandal. Arrests in Bihar, Gujarat, and Haryana clearly indicate that there was planned and organized corruption in the exam process, with these BJP-ruled states becoming the epicenter of the paper leak.”
In his message, he added,
“In our manifesto, we guaranteed the protection of the youth’s future by enacting stringent laws against paper leaks. Fulfilling our responsibility as the opposition, we are committed to strongly raising the voices of the youth across the country, from the streets to Parliament, and pressuring the government to develop such stringent policies.”
The Supreme Court heard a writ petition related to the NEET UG controversy and advised the counsel to list all matters for the next hearing, scheduled for July 8.
The Supreme Court emphasized the hard work students put into preparing for their exams, stating that their efforts must not be overlooked. The petitioner’s advocate requested an update on the investigation status.
However, Justice Vikram Nath advised scheduling the matter for July 8 and instructed the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Union to file their responses within two weeks. The petitioner argued for the investigation to be placed on record, but the bench recommended raising these points in the next hearing.
During the proceedings, the Supreme Court urged the NTA to acknowledge any errors in the NEET process. The bench, consisting of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice SVN Bhatti, stressed the importance of prompt action by the NTA, ensuring fair treatment for all candidates.
The Supreme Court told the NTA,
“As the agency conducting the examination, you must act fairly. If there is a mistake, acknowledge it and outline the corrective measures. This approach will build confidence in your performance,”
The Court further remarked,
“Imagine someone who has defrauded the system becoming a doctor; such an individual would be detrimental to society. Students work hard to succeed in NEET,” highlighting the importance of integrity in the examination process.
A major controversy erupted following the NEET exam, taken by 2.4 million students on May 5, due to allegations of a paper leak shortly after the results were announced on June 4. Notably, 67 students had achieved perfect scores of 720/720, and some students reportedly awarded grace marks to compensate for time lost at exam centers.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) informed the Supreme Court last week that the grace marks awarded to 1,563 candidates in the NEET-UG exam would be withdrawn. These candidates will be given the option to retake the exam on June 23, with the results of this re-test to be declared before June 30. If any candidate chooses not to retake the exam, their original scores, minus the extra marks, will be reinstated.