On Tuesday, the Supreme Court reviewed a petition calling for the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2024 exams due to an alleged paper leak. The court highlighted that the “sanctity of the exams has been affected” and demanded an explanation. Justices Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah asked the National Testing Agency (NTA) for a response but did not halt the NEET UG 2024 counseling process.
Senior Advocate Mathews J Nedumpara requested a pause in the counseling, but Justice Nath stated, “Let it start. We are not stopping the counseling.”
Justice Amanullah added, “It’s not that simple. The sanctity has been affected, so we need answers,” addressing the NTA’s counsel.
Supreme Court Demands Answers from NTA Over NEET-UG 2024
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the central government and the National Testing Agency (NTA) regarding a petition seeking to cancel the NEET-UG 2024 results due to alleged paper leaks. The NEET-UG is a highly competitive entrance exam for undergraduate medical courses.
The court emphasized to the NTA that “it is not that simple… just because you have conducted the exam, it is sacrosanct. The sanctity of the examination has been affected, so we need answers.”
However, the court decided that the counseling for admissions will proceed as planned. Justices Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah stated, “We are not stopping counseling.” The case has been scheduled for further hearing on July 8 and will be addressed alongside a plea before Chief Justice DY Chandrachud.
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Petition for Cancellation and Retake of NEET-UG 2024 Exam
The court is reviewing a new petition regarding the NEET-UG 2024 results, which alleges score discrepancies and favoritism toward certain students.
The petition requests the cancellation of the May 5 exam scores and demands a retake.
Petitioners from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh argue that there were inconsistencies in awarding grace marks without a clear rationale. They highlighted “statistically impossible” scores, such as some students achieving a perfect 720 out of 720.
“There is no clear logic for the grace marks awarded, and no list has been shared showing the grace marks given. The reason cited for awarding grace marks was ‘wastage of time,’ but this was not mentioned in the exam’s information bulletin,” the petitioners stated.
The petitioners also noted that 67 students from a single coaching center scored a perfect 720 marks. They pointed out that over 13,000 students contested the provisional answer key released by the NTA, indicating a different correct answer.
Highlighting the risks of cheating in a medical exam, the plea stated, “This field requires thorough scientific and medical knowledge. Cheating or unfair practices can result in incompetence, putting patients’ lives at risk.”
The petitioners emphasized that cheating undermines meritocracy and equal opportunities, which are vital for social mobility and fairness.
“It perpetuates inequality by favoring those who can afford leaked exam papers or engage in fraud, disadvantaging those who rely on hard work and merit. This impacts society as a whole,” the plea concluded.
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Supreme Court’s Response and NTA’s Action Plan
On May 17, during a court session led by the Chief Justice, a request similar to yours was discussed, and the court took note of it without stopping the announcement of results.
In the meantime, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has formed a special team to review the concerns of 1,600 students who took the NEET 2024 exam.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q.1. Why is the Supreme Court reviewing NEET-UG 2024 results?
Ans. The Supreme Court is reviewing the NEET-UG 2024 results due to allegations of paper leaks and irregularities in the examination process.
Q.2. What allegations have been made regarding the NEET-UG 2024 exams?
Ans. Allegations include paper leaks, discrepancies in scoring, and favoritism toward certain students, raising questions about the fairness and integrity of the exams.
Q.3. What action is being demanded by petitioners regarding NEET-UG 2024?
Ans. Petitioners are demanding the cancellation of NEET-UG 2024 results and a retake of the exam to ensure fairness and transparency in the admission process.
Q.4. What concerns have been raised regarding grace marks in NEET-UG 2024?
Ans. Concerns have been raised about the arbitrary awarding of grace marks without clear justification, leading to statistically improbable scores and a lack of transparency in the evaluation process.
Q.5. How is the National Testing Agency (NTA) responding to the NEET-UG 2024 controversy?
Ans. The NTA is under pressure to provide explanations and address the allegations raised by the Supreme Court and petitioners. They have formed a special team to review concerns raised by students who took the NEET 2024 exam.
