On Tuesday(23rd July),The Supreme Court has refused to cancel the NEET-UG 2024 examination despite acknowledging paper leaks. Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal has called for a complete overhaul of the National Testing Agency, criticizing its ability to handle the examination effectively.
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NEW DELHI: On Tuesday(23rd July), the Supreme Court refused to cancel the NEET-UG 2024 examination despite acknowledging instances of paper leaks. Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal has since voiced the need for a complete overhaul of the National Testing Agency (NTA), asserting that the current system is inadequate for administering a nationwide examination of this scale.
Sibal, in an interview, highlighted the Supreme Court’s recognition of the paper leak incident.
“The Supreme Court acknowledged the occurrence of a paper leak and has directed IIT Delhi to investigate the issue further. The Court requested evidence to determine the extent of the leak and concluded that it was localized. Therefore, they decided not to penalize the thousands of students who took the NEET exam and were not involved in the localized manipulation. We should commend the Supreme Court for promptly addressing this matter and recognizing the leak. However, the focus should not solely be on the Court’s actions.”
– he stated.
The apex court’s bench, comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, clarified that there was ‘no systemic breach’ in the exam.
They noted-
“There is no evidence on record to suggest that the exam results are compromised or that there has been any systematic breach.”
The court further emphasized that the data did not suggest a systemic leak of the NEET-UG question paper, maintaining the integrity of the examination.
However, the court did acknowledge the specific instances of leaks in Hazaribagh and Patna.
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It pointed out-
“The NEET-UG paper leak occurred in Hazaribagh and Patna, and this fact is ‘not in dispute.'”
The government’s report indicated that an ongoing probe by the central agency revealed that 155 students from these exam centers appeared to have benefited from the fraudulent activity.
Sibal expressed concern over the recurring nature of these leaks, questioning-
“Why are there leaks in every exam under this government? The question is, who is involved and who benefits from these leaks? Who are the unqualified individuals securing jobs? Recently, an IAS officer entered the service using a false caste certificate. The National Testing Agency (NTA) needs a complete overhaul, as it cannot handle a nationwide exam of this scale under its current system.”
The Rajya Sabha MP further stressed the need for structural changes in the examination system.
“Do we need a different structure to manage examinations? These issues need to be examined. Why should NEET be an all-India examination? Tamil Nadu has objected to this because NEET is based on the CBSE system, making it difficult for students from local boards to compete with those from the CBSE system.”
-he pointed out.
He urged the government to consider the diverse backgrounds of all students, saying-
“The government serves everyone and should consider all sections of our youth who are taking this exam.”