Today(on 22nd July),The Supreme Court of India is reviewing petitions calling for the cancellation of the NEET UG 2024 exam amid allegations of paper leaks and malpractice. This high-profile case highlights the critical importance of upholding the exam’s integrity.
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NEW DELHI: Today(on 22nd July), The Supreme Court of India convened to deliberate on petitions advocating for the cancellation of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2024 exam due to allegations of a paper leak and other associated malpractices. The case, which has garnered significant attention, underscores the gravity of maintaining the integrity of one of India’s most crucial entrance examinations.
NEET Paper Leak Before May 4, Says Chief Justice:
During the proceedings, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud noted-
“The NEET paper leak happened before May 4.”
This revelation came after a series of arguments presented by both sides.
The bench, also comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, began hearing the matter at 10:30 am.
Government and NTA Oppose NEET 2024 Cancellation
The central government and the National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting the NEET exam, have both opposed the cancellation of NEET 2024. They argue that despite the alleged leak, the overall integrity of the exam remains intact. On July 18, the court had instructed the NTA to release center-wise results to identify any unusual performance spikes, particularly at centers where the paper leak is suspected.
Court Likely to Conclude the Matter Today:
The bench has indicated that it may conclude the matter today. Senior advocate Narendra Hooda, representing the petitioners who are demanding a re-test, pointed out numerous anomalies in the results declared by the NTA.
He stated-
“They have withheld the All India ranks and serial numbers of the exam centers, providing only 5,000 PDFs under the guise of result data.”
Claims of Anomalies and E-Rickshaw Transport
Hooda further asserted that the paper leak occurred before the question papers were deposited with the respective banks.
He mentioned-
“The question paper was transported by e-rickshaw, but the Centre claimed it was OMR sheets.”
This discrepancy in transportation methods highlights potential lapses in the examination process.
Established Facts and Investigative Data
Chief Justice Chandrachud clarified-
“It is confirmed that the question paper was transported by e-rickshaw; however, the distributed image was of the OMR sheet, not the question paper. Let’s concentrate on the core issue and analyze the data.”
Hooda responded-
“To summarize the leak issue: The exam’s handling is so flawed that it undermines confidence, with potential leaks at every stage. They’ve admitted to a leak and WhatsApp dissemination. The Bihar Police investigation indicates the leak occurred on May 4, before the question papers were deposited with the banks.”
Organized Effort Behind the Leak
Hooda elaborated-
“The leak was orchestrated by a gang experienced in such cases, not by a peon leaking a single question paper. The Bihar Police has been instructed to submit all related materials, including recovered items, case diaries, and reports.”
The Solicitor General argued that middleman Amit Anand was gathering students on the night of May 4 to provide them with the leaked papers on May 5.
Addressing this, CJI Chandrachud remarked-
“This suggests that students were instructed to memorize the material on the evening of May 4, indicating that the paper leak occurred before that date.”
