Today(on 8th July),The Supreme Court will hear petitions on NEET-UG 2024 today, with 38 cases alleging irregularities in the May 5 exam. A bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud will review calls for a fresh exam, affecting nationwide medical admissions.
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NEW DELHI: Today(on 8th July),The Supreme Court of India is set to review a series of petitions concerning the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2024, a crucial medical entrance exam. These petitions, call for the exam to be conducted afresh due to allegations of irregularities and malpractices in the test held on May 5.
A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra will examine a total of 38 petitions related to the NEET-UG exam. This examination is essential for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other medical courses in government and private institutions across India.
The petitions highlight several allegations, including paper leaks and discrepancies in granting grace marks. These claims have ignited widespread protests and a political outcry from the opposition across the country. One of the most significant points of contention is the unprecedented number of perfect scores. An astounding 67 students achieved a perfect score of 720, raising suspicions due to six top scorers hailing from a single center in Haryana.
“The results were announced on June 4, ten days ahead of the scheduled date.”
-a source revealed, emphasizing the unusual circumstances surrounding the announcement.
Despite the allegations, the government and the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the NEET-UG, argue against nullifying the exam. They assert that there is no substantial evidence indicating a large-scale breach of confidentiality. Additionally, they caution that scrapping the exam could negatively impact thousands of honest candidates.
The outcome of this hearing holds significant implications for numerous aspiring medical students. If the court rules in favor of conducting the exam afresh, it could mean an additional round of preparation and stress for students who have already appeared for the test. Conversely, a decision to uphold the exam results could lead to further scrutiny and debate regarding the alleged irregularities.
In a recent affidavit to the court, the Union Education Minister firmly defended the integrity of a national examination, stating-
“It is also argued that without evidence of a large-scale breach of confidentiality in a nationwide examination, it would not be reasonable to annul the entire exam and the results already declared.”
This statement underscores the government’s position that canceling the exam due to unsubstantiated allegations would be unjustifiable.
The government further emphasized the potential repercussions of canceling the exam.
“Annulment of the entire exam would severely disadvantage the lakhs of honest candidates who took the test in 2024.”
-it stated, highlighting the adverse impact such a decision would have on numerous diligent students who have already participated in the examination.
Supporting the government’s stance, the National Testing Agency (NTA) also submitted an affidavit. The NTA described the proposed cancellation as “counterproductive and significantly harmful” to public interest and the career prospects of qualified candidates. The agency insisted that the examination process was conducted with utmost fairness and security, categorically dismissing allegations of widespread malpractice as “unfounded and misleading.”
The Supreme Court had previously addressed a similar petition on June 11, expressing concerns over the integrity of the examination.
The court remarked-
“The integrity of the exams has been compromised.”
and emphasized the need for clarity by stating,-
“we need answers.”
Justice Amanullah, addressing the NTA’s counsel, pointed out-
“It’s not as straightforward as that. Once something is done, it becomes sacrosanct. With the sanctity affected, answers are necessary.”
reinforcing the necessity for a thorough investigation into the matter.
These petitions demand the scrapping of the exam, a re-test, and a court-monitored investigation into the alleged issues surrounding the examination, which was undertaken by over 23 lakh candidates across 4,750 centers in 571 cities.
ALSO READ: NEET-UG 2024 Paper Leak | Medical Aspirants Move Supreme Court Seeking NEET-UG Re-exam
In response to these allegations, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched an inquiry into the claims and has registered cases in various states. Concurrently, the government has established a high-level expert committee tasked with recommending measures to ensure transparent, smooth, and fair examinations by the NTA. Additionally, the NTA has seen a change in leadership, with a new chairman appointed to oversee future examination processes.
