Today(on 13th June), The Supreme Court will hear three petitions including one by the CEO of ‘Physics Wallah’, regarding the NEET-UG 2024 controversy. A vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta will address grievances about the conduct of the NEET-UG exam.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India is set to hear three significant petitions today(on June 13), related to the controversy-ridden NEET-UG 2024 examination for admissions to MBBS, BDS, and other medical courses. The hearing will take place before a vacation bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta.
Petitions in Supreme Court
Among the petitions is one filed by Alakh Pandey, the CEO of the prominent EdTech firm ‘Physics Wallah.’ Pandey has raised serious concerns about the conduct of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2024, specifically questioning the alleged random award of grace marks by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to over 1,500 candidates.
In addition to Pandey’s plea, the Supreme Court will also hear two separate petitions filed by Abdullah Mohammed Faiz and Jaripiti Kartheek. These petitions similarly address grievances related to the NEET-UG 2024 examination process.
Pandey has urged the Supreme Court to establish an expert panel under its supervision to –
“investigate the examination procedures and outcomes of NEET (UG) 2024.”
Examination Details
The NEET-UG 2024 examination was conducted by the NTA on May 5 across 4,750 centers nationwide, with approximately 24 lakh candidates appearing for the test. Although the results were originally scheduled to be declared on June 14, they were unexpectedly announced on June 4 due to the expedited completion of answer sheet evaluations.
The NEET-UG 2024 examination has been mired in controversy, including allegations of a question paper leak and the arbitrary award of grace marks to over 1,500 candidates. These allegations have sparked widespread protests and led to the filing of cases in seven high courts and the Supreme Court.
One of the most striking aspects of the controversy is the unprecedented number of students—67—who scored a perfect 720. Notably, six of these top scorers are from a single examination center in Faridabad, Haryana, which has fueled suspicions of irregularities.
On June 10, several students staged protests in Delhi, demanding a thorough investigation into the alleged irregularities. The protests have underscored the growing frustration and mistrust among students regarding the fairness of the examination process.
Central to the controversy is the claim that the NTA’s decision to award grace marks significantly influenced the results, contributing to the unusually high number of perfect scores. It has been alleged that the grace marks were a major factor in the 67 students achieving the top rank.
Role of the NTA
The National Testing Agency (NTA) is responsible for conducting the NEET-UG examination, which serves as a gateway for admissions into MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other related courses in both government and private institutions across India. The current controversies have brought the NTA’s practices and protocols under intense scrutiny.
In a recent announcement, officials from the National Testing Agency (NTA) revealed that 63 cases of students using unfair means were reported in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduates (NEET-UG). Despite these incidents, the NTA assured that the integrity of the medical entrance examination remained intact, with no occurrences of paper leaks.
NTA Director General Subodh Kumar Singh provided detailed insights into the situation, stating-
“The integrity of the medical entrance exam remains intact, with no instances of a paper leak.”
Out of the 63 cases, the NTA has taken stringent actions against 23 students, who have been debarred for varying periods based on the severity of their misconduct.
Singh elaborated-
“A committee of three eminent experts in examinations and academics was formed to address various reported issues, including impersonation, cheating, and tampering with OMR sheets.”
This committee meticulously examined each reported case and provided specific recommendations for disciplinary actions.
“Based on the panel’s recommendations, 12 candidates were barred from taking the exam for three years, nine candidates for two years, and two candidates for one year each. The results of the remaining candidates have been withheld.”
-Singh said.
Singh further emphasized the thorough approach taken by the panel in addressing each instance of malpractice.
“The panel provided recommendations for each case.”
– he added, underlining the NTA’s commitment to maintaining the examination’s integrity.
The remaining 40 candidates who were found using unfair means have had their results withheld pending further investigation. This step is part of the NTA’s efforts to ensure fairness and transparency in the examination process.
The NTA’s actions reflect a strong stance against any form of academic dishonesty, reinforcing the importance of ethical conduct in examinations. By debarring the candidates and withholding results, the NTA aims to send a clear message about the consequences of such actions.
