Supreme Court to Hear Crucial Case on NEET PG 2024 Today Amid Allegations of Irregularities

During the last hearing on September 20, the Supreme Court issued notices to both the Union of India and the NBEMS. Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud took a firm stance on the issue, criticizing last-minute changes made to the NEET PG exam pattern

The Supreme Court of India will hear a critical case today regarding the NEET PG 2024 exam, which has faced delays and significant controversies. Nineteen petitioners have brought a case against the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), citing concerns over transparency, irregularities in the examination process, and issues with the release of results.

During the last hearing on September 20, the Supreme Court issued notices to both the Union of India and the NBEMS. Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud took a firm stance on the issue, criticizing last-minute changes made to the NEET PG exam pattern. "You are playing with the life of students. This is very unusual. How can you change the pattern three days before the exams? Students will have a meltdown!" he remarked. The urgency of the situation was further highlighted when the CJI directed the case to be listed for hearing again within one week.

Concerns about the NEET PG 2024 exam have been escalating. In a previous hearing on September 13, candidates voiced their fears about a potential paper leak, inconsistencies in score normalization, and the absence of official answer keys. Senior Advocate Vibha Makhija, representing the petitioners, argued that the lack of transparency in the exam's normalization process and missing answer keys had caused confusion and anxiety among the candidates.

This case arrives at a time when NEET PG 2024 candidates are also grappling with delays in the counseling process. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) had initially planned to begin Round 1 of counseling last week, but no confirmed schedule has been released. Candidates were allowed to change their nationality status to Non-Resident Indian (NRI) until September 17, and provisions to secure PwD certificates was available until September 25.

Today's hearing will be closely watched, as the court’s decision could shape the future of NEET PG 2024 and impact the academic prospects of over two lakh medical students. In August, the Supreme Court had dismissed an earlier petition seeking to postpone the exam, emphasizing that such a delay would disrupt the academic timeline for a vast number of students.

As the case unfolds, NEET PG candidates hope for a resolution that addresses the alleged discrepancies and ensures a transparent and fair examination process moving forward. Meanwhile, Round 1 counseling registrations have begun, and the MCC is expected to issue a complete schedule soon, with admissions into MD/MS programs based on rank, seat availability, and choices filled by the candidates.