New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to the Centre, the National Testing Agency (NTA), and others in response to multiple petitions seeking action against alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024 exam, which is the national medical entrance test. The court also stayed further proceedings on similar pleas pending before various High Courts across the country.
A vacation bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and S.V.N. Bhatti directed the concerned parties to respond to four separate petitions, including those demanding the scrapping of the NEET-UG 2024 exam and calling for a court-monitored investigation into reported malpractices. The bench set the returnable date for the responses to July 8 and ordered a stay on all proceedings related to NEET-UG in the High Courts until then.
The bench emphasised that while it will not halt the ongoing counselling process, it will hear all petitions comprehensively on July 8. It dismissed requests to defer counselling until after the hearing, noting the complexities involved in such decisions affecting thousands of candidates.
Among the petitioners are 20 aspirants represented by advocate Dheeraj Singh, who has urged the court to annul the May 5 exam and conduct it afresh. The bench acknowledged these pleas and scheduled them for detailed consideration alongside others on the designated date.
The Supreme Court also issued notices to the Centre and the NTA in response to a plea filed by Sorting Hat Solutions Pvt Ltd, operating under 'Unacademy', seeking the formation of an independent committee to investigate discrepancies in NEET-UG 2024 results. The company has also requested statistical data from the NTA to substantiate the methodology used in awarding compensatory marks.
During the proceedings, it was disclosed that arrests had been made in Bihar in connection with the exam irregularities, with FIRs also lodged in Bihar and Gujarat. The bench instructed the respective state police forces to provide status reports on their investigations into these matters.
The bench observed the participation of coaching institutes in litigation as petitioners, affirming their right to seek redressal on behalf of affected students. It underscored the seriousness of any lapses in conducting national-level examinations like NEET-UG, stating that even minimal negligence should be thoroughly addressed.
The NEET-UG 2024 exam, conducted by the NTA for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other medical courses across India, has been marred by allegations of irregularities, including question paper leaks and improper awarding of grace marks. The Centre and the NTA had earlier informed the court about the cancellation of grace marks awarded to 1,563 candidates and offered them the choice of a retest or foregoing the compensatory marks.
The NEET-UG results, originally scheduled for June 14, were unexpectedly released on June 4, triggering widespread scrutiny and protests. The controversy has sparked political debates and protests in various parts of the country, highlighting concerns over the integrity of the examination process.
The Supreme Court's upcoming hearing on July 8 is anticipated to address these issues comprehensively, potentially influencing the future of the NEET-UG examination and admissions process for medical aspirants nationwide.
