The Supreme Court commenced hearing a series of petitions related to the NEET UG 2024 examination on Monday. The petitions address alleged irregularities in the exam and the demand for a re-test due to accusations of paper leaks. The bench, consisting of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, along with Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, is set to hear 38 petitions concerning the NEET-UG examination. The Central and the National Testing Agency (NTA) recently informed the Supreme Court that scrapping the exam would be “counterproductive” and “seriously jeopardise” lakhs of honest candidates in the absence of any proof of large-scale breach of confidentiality. The NEET UG 2024 examination was conducted on May 5 and the results were declared on June 4, ten days ahead of schedule. The NTA awarded full marks in the exam to dozens of students, with 67 toppers for the medical exam this year. This led to protests and calls for a re-test by students and organizations, alleging irregularities in the marking system used by NTA. The Centre and the NTA informed the court on June 13 that they had cancelled the grace marks awarded to 1,563 candidates, giving them the option to either take a re-test or forgo the compensatory marks awarded for loss of time.
NEET UG 2024 Hearing updates:
The National Testing Agency (NTA) stated that the papers were taken out at approximately 10:30 or 11:00 am on May 5. The examination was held in 571 cities, including 14 overseas, with 23.33 lakh students taking part. The court also inquired about the method used to send the papers to the 14 international centers. The NTA verified that they were dispatched through embassies, prompting the court to ask if this was done using a diplomatic bag or courier service.
SC seeks additional information from NTA
The court inquired during the live NEET UG 2024 hearing about the process of preparing and handing over the questions to the NTA, the storage location, and the transfer to the lockers. Furthermore, details were sought regarding the printing press responsible and the logistics for paper distribution. Information was requested on paper custody post-printing, the time gap between printing and distribution, and the return of papers to Delhi. The NTA assured the court of furnishing a comprehensive chart.
If leak spread through Telegram, then it is widespread, says CJI
The Supreme Court highlighted the necessity of determining whether the NEET UG 2024 exam’s integrity has been compromised and if it is possible to identify the tainted candidates. With 23 lakh students involved, the court recognized that it is unrealistic to assume that a substantial number are engaged in fraudulent activities. The court emphasized the importance of understanding how the leak occurred, especially if it spread through social media platforms like Telegram, which would significantly magnify the impact of the leak.
SC flags several anomalies
The court, during the live hearing of NEET UG 2024, requested a detailed timeline to tackle the issues at hand and advised the NTA against taking an adversarial stance, considering the possible repercussions on students. Emphasizing the importance of recognizing warning signs, like students scoring 720/720 or irregularities in score trends, the court proposed either flagging these issues or establishing a committee. Additionally, the court highlighted the significance of monitoring students who enroll in one state but achieve flawless scores in another state.
Bench conscious that we are dealing with 23 lakh students, says CJI
Supreme Court emphasizes the need for a retest, taking into consideration the large number of students involved. The court requests information on the process, FIRs, the spread of the leak, and the actions taken by the Centre and NTA to identify those who have benefited from the wrongdoing. The court also emphasizes that those who breach the exam have no right to be there and seeks clarity on the government’s plan of action.
SC said that reexam is last solution
SC said cancelling an exam is a measure of last resort. The court was informed by SG that comprehensive information will be submitted by Wednesday.
SG requests to fix next hearing on 11th July
During the live broadcast of the NEET UG 2024 case, the Supreme Court has announced the appointment of a nodal counsel similar to CB matters. The Court has directed the Centre to distribute a detailed schedule of dates. Petitioners are urging the court to request a CBI report on the investigation into the 6 FIRs. The Solicitor General has committed to obtaining records from the CBI and proposes scheduling the next hearing for Thursday.
SC asks NTA to give full disclosure on paper leak
The court has instructed the NTA to furnish detailed information on three critical points concerning the recent exam paper leak during the NEET UG 2024 Hearing: the exact timing of the leak, the manner in which the leaked papers were circulated, and the duration between the leak and the actual exam held on May 5 at 2pm. The CBI has been assigned the task of investigating this matter, and the court anticipates a status report outlining the developments and discoveries regarding the timing of the leak and the distribution methods employed.