Today(on 8th July), Chief Justice DY Chandrachud acknowledged the NEET-UG 2024 question paper leak, stressing the assessment of its impact on 23 lakh students before considering a re-examination, emphasizing the need for clarity on identifying affected candidates to determine if a retest is necessary.
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NEW DELHI: Today(on 8th July), Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, during the hearing of multiple petitions concerning the re-examination of NEET-UG 2024, emphasized that the leak of the question paper is an “admitted fact.”
He highlighted the complexity of the situation by stating-
“We need to consider the full scope of the leak since we are dealing with 23 lakh students.”
In his remarks, Chief Justice Chandrachud elaborated on the prerequisites for deciding whether a re-examination is necessary. He explained that the court needs to first determine if it is feasible to distinguish the students who benefited from the fraud from those who did not.
He noted-
“If the breach of sanctity affects the entire exam and segregation isn’t feasible, then a retest is necessary.”
However, he clarified that if the candidates involved in the malpractice can be identified, a retest may not be required.
The court’s decision will hinge on three critical parameters. Chief Justice Chandrachud outlined these, stating-
“The decision on whether a retest is necessary hinges on established criteria: the court must determine if the alleged breach occurred systemically, if it compromises the integrity of the entire exam process, and if it’s feasible to distinguish between beneficiaries of fraud and unaffected students.”
In addressing the demands for a re-test of the NEET-UG examination, Chief Justice Chandrachud raised several pertinent issues.
He said-
“This involves costs, travel implications, and disruption of academic schedules. What is the nature and extent of the leak? How was it disseminated? What measures have the Centre and NTA taken to identify students who benefited from the wrongdoing?”
The Supreme Court has called upon the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Centre to clarify whether it is possible to separate the tainted candidates from the untainted ones. The court inquired-
“Are we currently identifying the candidates implicated in the wrongdoing?”
ALSO READ: NEET Row | Supreme Court to Hear Over 30 NEET-UG 2024 Petitions Today
The Supreme Court of India has initiated hearings on a series of petitions concerning the recent medical entrance examination, NEET-UG. The National Testing Agency (NTA) informed the court that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is investigating allegations of irregularities, with six FIRs already registered. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud responded to this update by stating-
“So, it’s established that the paper was leaked.”
CJI DIRECTIVES-
NTA is directed to provide information on:
- Actions taken to identify those who benefited from the leak.
- Measures taken by NTA to pinpoint the centers/cities where the leak occurred.
- Methods employed to identify the individuals who gained from the leak.
- Dissemination of leak.
- The investigating officer is also required to submit a status report on these matters.
The court is currently reviewing 38 petitions related to the NEET-UG examination. These petitions include pleas for the cancellation and re-conduction of the exam, citing irregularities and malpractices in the test conducted on May 5. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, is meticulously examining these grievances.
Legal representatives for some petitioners argued that the NTA did not adhere to the standard procedures necessary for conducting the examination. They emphasized that the discrepancies were extensive and systemic.
These claims have led to widespread protests and political uproar, especially after suspicions arose when 67 students initially scored a perfect 720, with six top scorers originating from a single center in Haryana. This result was announced on June 4, ten days ahead of the scheduled date.
The opposition has been vocal about the alleged irregularities, including paper leaks and the arbitrary awarding of grace marks. Despite these allegations, the government and the NTA have opposed the cancellation of the exam.
They argue that there is no substantial evidence to suggest a large-scale breach of confidentiality. In its affidavit, the Union Education Minister stated-
“It is also argued that without evidence of widespread breach of confidentiality in a nationwide examination, it would not be justified to cancel the entire examination and the results already announced.”
The government further warned that scrapping the exam-
“would severely impact the integrity of the lakhs of honest candidates who took the 2024 question paper.”
The NTA’s affidavit reinforced this stance, describing the cancellation of the exam as “counterproductive and significantly harmful” to the public interest and the career prospects of deserving candidates. The agency asserted that the exam was conducted fairly and securely, dismissing the allegations of widespread malpractice as “unfounded and misleading.”
On June 11, while considering a similar petition, the Supreme Court remarked on the compromised integrity of the examination process. The court highlighted the need for clear answers, stating-
“It’s not that straightforward. Once done, it’s considered sacrosanct. The breach of sanctity demands answers.”
as Justice Amanullah addressed the NTA’s counsel.
The petitions before the court seek the annulment of the NEET-UG exam, a re-test, and a court-monitored investigation into the alleged malpractices. Over 23 lakh candidates appeared for the exam across 4,750 centers in 571 cities.