On Monday, the Supreme Court addressed the nationwide uproar over alleged irregularities in the NEET UG 2024 examination. The court confirmed the authenticity of the paper leak and acknowledged the gravity of the situation, impacting the lives of 2.3 million students. The bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, indicated that a retest might be considered as a last resort if the examination’s integrity is compromised.
A total of 38 petitions have been filed, asserting that the NEET UG question paper was leaked and manipulated, necessitating the exam’s cancellation. The Chief Justice’s bench conducted an inquiry and affirmed the leak. They stated a retest would be ordered if it’s proven that the examination’s sanctity was compromised or the perpetrators couldn’t be identified. The bench stressed the importance of understanding the extent of the leak’s impact before making a final decision.
The court raised crucial questions to the Centre, highlighting the need for thorough investigation. “It’s reported that only two students are directly connected to the NEET paper leak, but this issue affects 2.3 million aspirants. It’s essential to determine how the leak occurred, how widespread it was, and the actions taken against those who benefited. How many students’ results have been put on hold? A comprehensive investigation is required,” the bench stated.
The court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit a progress report on the NEET investigation. Additionally, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has been instructed to disclose when the question paper was first leaked.
The NEET UG 2024 was conducted nationwide on May 5th. However, the examination was marred by protests due to the paper leak and other reported irregularities. The results raised suspicions, especially with 67 students allegedly securing the first rank. In response, the NTA revised the NEET ranks and conducted a re-examination for 1,563 candidates, granting them grace marks as per the Supreme Court’s directives. These developments have also led to the postponement of counseling sessions.
The Supreme Court’s final verdict will follow a detailed review of all the findings, as the nation awaits clarity on the future of the NEET UG 2024 examination.
