SC comes in aid of disabled candidate who was denied extra hour during NEET 2021

Supreme Court has said to NTA that the national agency was bound to allow the relaxation for persons with disabilities.

The top court of the country has directed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to provide relief to a disabled candidate of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) exam 2021 who was denied an extra hour during the examination on September 12.

"The exam body was bound to follow the rules which allow for relaxation for persons with disability. Lack of remedy will cause irreparable injury. Authority cannot be allowed to get away," said the court bench comprising of Justices Vikram Nath and DY Chandrachud.

The petitioner is a female aspirant reportedly suffering from a neurological disorder called dysgraphia that impairs writing. Though the Supreme Court has denied the student to re-write the medical entrance examination, it directed NTA to provide a solution within two weeks to the student for the injustice done to her during the examination.

"A lack of remedy by this Court could cause irretrievable injustice to the life of the student. As an examining body, the National Testing Agency cannot get away from responsibility and accountability," said the court.

This year, more than 16 lakh students registered for NEET UG 2021 and over 95% of the registered candidate appeared for the examination. The results were declared on November 1 and now the qualified candidates are waiting for NEET-UG 2021 counselling to begin. Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and AYUSH Admissions Central Counseling Committee (AACCC) are expected to announce the counselling date soon.

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