Supreme Court to Hear Petition Seeking Cancellation of NEET UG 2024 Exam Amid Paper Leak Scandal

The petitioner is requesting that a fresh NEET UG exam be conducted under the court's supervision.

The Supreme Court will today hear a petition seeking the cancellation of the NEET UG 2024 exam and the subsequent counselling and seat allotment process scheduled to commence on July 6. A vacation bench consisting of Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti will preside over the case. The petitioner is requesting that a fresh exam be conducted under the court's supervision.

Additionally, the bench will consider an application for appropriate orders and directions on a petition calling for a CBI investigation into the alleged NEET UG 2024 paper leak.

In a related development, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced on June 20 that no fresh examination would be conducted for NEET UG 2024 despite the paper leak scandal. This decision, Pradhan stated, aims to protect the interests of the millions of genuine candidates who have passed the exam, particularly those from rural areas. He assured the public that those responsible for the paper leak would face justice and emphasized the government's dedication to maintaining the examination process's integrity.

During a press conference, Pradhan also revealed plans to form a high-level committee to review the National Testing Agency (NTA)'s operations. The committee's mandate will be to enhance transparency and prevent future errors, aiming for a zero-error examination process. It will include experts from various fields to strengthen the NTA’s procedures.

Calls for a re-examination have intensified following the confession of Anurag Yadav, an accused in the paper leak case. Yadav, from Samastipur, admitted to receiving the leaked paper a day before the exam from his uncle, a Junior Engineer. He disclosed a network involving Amit Anand and Nitish Kumar, identifying Anand as the mastermind.

Yadav's revelation, documented by Shiksha, has sparked further outrage among students. The NEET UG 2024 results, declared on June 4, showed an unprecedented 67 students achieving perfect scores, raising suspicions of malpractice. The NTA's decision on June 13 to re-evaluate students who received grace marks has not quelled the discontent. Protests led by the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) have erupted, demanding justice and the dissolution of the NTA.

Adding to the controversy, the Indian National Congress accused the Modi government of failing to address multiple paper leaks over the past five years, affecting 1.75 crore candidates. "The Modi government is trying to shield the NTA," alleged the INC, criticizing the Education Minister’s reluctance to acknowledge the leak.

On June 20, the Supreme Court refused to halt NEET counseling and put a hold on ongoing cases in High Courts. The court demanded a response from the NTA by July 8, emphasizing the need for accountability and improvements if any errors were identified. The Ministry of Education has also requested a detailed report from the Economic Offences Unit of Bihar Police on the irregularities in Patna.

In response to the scandal, the NTA announced the invalidation of 1,563 candidates' scorecards who received grace marks due to exam disruptions. These candidates are allowed to retake the exam on June 23, with results expected by June 30, to keep the counseling schedule on track.

As investigations and legal proceedings continue, the focus remains on ensuring fairness and maintaining the credibility of one of India’s most critical entrance exams. The Supreme Court underscored the importance of addressing any negligence, however minor, and recognized the efforts of the students who diligently prepared for the exams. The next court hearing is scheduled for July 8, 2024, to further address procedural lapses and allegations of unfair practices in the NEET-UG 2024 examination process.