NEET-UG: Grace marks given to 1,563 candidates withdrawn, Centre to SC
HYDERABAD: With the Supreme Court recording the Centre's submission that grace marks would be cancelled for 1,563 candidates in NEET-UG, and that the students would have an option to take a retest, advocate Mathews J. Nedumpara, representing one of the petitioners, said that staying the process of counselling to allot medical seats had become necessary.
“The issue affects a large number of students. The stay in counselling is necessary because the paper was leaked,” Nedumpara said, adding that he would file an interlocutory application next week.
Navadeep Ashwin, Telangana secretary of the Indian Medical Association Medical Students Network (IMA MSN), welcomed the decision for a retest but called for a deeper investigation. "We want a high-powered, CBI-level inquiry into the matter of the paper leaks," he said.
Dr Krishna Kumari, a general physician, raised concerns about the integrity of the examination process. "What about the paper leak? Cheating at examination centres? A mass-level scam? Grace marks benefited only 1,563 students. How will the remaining hardworking students get justice? This needs thorough investigation," she said.
The NEET-UG retest could be held June 23 and results declared by June 30. The National Testing Agency, which conducted the test, has assured that the counselling sessions scheduled for July 6 would not be disrupted. The Supreme Court has directed the NTA to respond within two weeks regarding allegations of question paper leaks and other irregularities.