NEET UG 2024: Supreme Court to Continue Hearing on Monday, Requests Bihar Police Report on Alleged Paper Leak

This SC ruling could significantly impact nearly 24 lakh students who appeared for the exam. Over 40 petitions have been filed, including requests for the cancellation of the entire NEET-UG 2024 exam, a re-test to ensure fairness

The Supreme Court of India will resume the hearing on the NEET UG 2024 case on Monday, July 22, amid serious allegations of a paper leak. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, who deferred the matter, indicated that the Court aims to conclude by noon and has requested a copy of the Bihar police report.

This ruling could significantly impact nearly 24 lakh students who appeared for the exam. Over 40 petitions have been filed, including requests for the cancellation of the entire NEET-UG 2024 exam, a re-test to ensure fairness, and an investigation into the alleged irregularities. The bench, comprising Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, emphasized that any decision for a re-examination must be based on concrete evidence showing the integrity of the entire test was compromised.

Chief Justice Chandrachud noted, "I have done an analysis from the top 100. AP got 7, Bihar got 7, Haryana 4, Delhi 6, Maharashtra 4, Tamil Nadu 6... etc., so it shows the top 100 is distributed across 12 states and one UT. The proof of the pudding is in the eating so we need to see how many from 1563 who took the re-test appear in the top 100... NTA will tell us that." The Solicitor General responded, "In the first 100, it is across 95 centres, in 56 cities, within 18 states-UTs across the country and thus it shows widespread participation and competitive spirit."

The Supreme Court clarified that the entire exam would be canceled only if the paper leak was on a large scale. "First prove that the impact of the paper leak has been widespread. You satisfy us that the paper leak happened on a large scale and the exam should be canceled," Chief Justice Chandrachud told the petitioners.

Both the Central Government and the National Testing Agency (NTA) have filed affidavits denying any widespread leak in the examination. The NTA contends that videos circulating on Telegram, purportedly showing leaked NEET-UG 2024 papers, are fabricated and manipulated. This assertion is supported by an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court.

The Union Government's affidavit referenced data analytics performed by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras. The analysis indicated that the marks distribution of the NEET-UG 2024 exam followed a typical bell-shaped curve, suggesting no irregularities. According to the IIT Madras report, there were no signs of mass leakage or any localized benefit to specific candidates, dismissing claims of widespread fraud.

Key Findings from the IIT Madras Report:

• The marks distribution aligns with a normal bell curve.
• City-wise and center-wise analysis for 2023 and 2024 revealed no abnormal patterns.
• An increase in marks in the 550-720 range was due to a 25% reduction in syllabus, not due to a leak.

The NTA has addressed the allegations surrounding the leaked paper videos on Telegram, asserting that the timestamps were altered to falsely indicate an early leak. Evidence provided includes a demonstration of how digital image dates can be manipulated, further discrediting the leak claims.

During the last hearing, Chief Justice Chandrachud emphasized the need to determine the systemic nature of the leak and its impact on the integrity of the NEET UG exam. The court suggested that a retest might be necessary if the exam's integrity was significantly compromised. However, a retest would be considered a last resort due to the logistical challenges and impact on millions of students.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is expected to submit its findings later today. Preliminary reports suggest that the alleged paper leak was localized rather than extensive. This finding is anticipated to provide further clarity on the extent and nature of the breach.

The Centre has outlined steps to maintain the integrity of the exam, emphasizing a robust process for conducting fair and transparent examinations. The counseling process for NEET-UG 2024 will commence in the third week of July, with strict measures in place to cancel the candidature of any individual found guilty of malpractice at any stage.

As the nation awaits the Supreme Court's decision, the implications for the NEET-UG 2024 examination and the future of competitive exams in India remain significant. On Monday, July 22, the apex court will evaluate the feasibility of a retest based on the extent of the leak and the ability to segregate students involved in malpractice from those who were not.

The Supreme Court's ruling will be pivotal in determining the future of medical admissions in India, potentially setting a precedent for handling large-scale examination controversies.