The Supreme Court of India is currently hearing multiple petitions regarding the alleged irregularities in the administration of the NEET-UG 2024 exams. The apex court has expressed serious concerns over the compromise of the medical entrance exam due to a paper leak. The bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, is reviewing 38 petitions related to the exam, which is a nationwide test for admissions to MBBS, BDS, Ayush, and other medical courses in government and private institutions across India.
The Supreme Court has asked the National Testing Agency (NTA) to provide complete disclosure about the nature of the paper leak and the time duration between the leak and the actual conduct of the examination. Additionally, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been ordered to file a report on the status of its investigation before the next hearing scheduled for July 11.
There have been close to 30 petitions filed seeking a direction to conduct a fresh exam due to grounds such as paper leak, OMR sheet manipulation, impersonation, and cheating. However, both the Centre and the NTA have argued against scrapping the exam, stating that it would be counterproductive and seriously jeopardize the honest candidates. The NTA has emphasized the importance of ensuring the sanctity of the NEET test to prevent such instances from reoccurring.
The Supreme Court has emphasized the need for a multi-disciplinary team of experts to investigate the matter thoroughly. The court is concerned about maintaining the integrity of the NEET exam and is seeking full disclosure from the NTA regarding the leak, its extent, and the steps taken to identify beneficiaries. The issue of whether a retest should be ordered will be determined based on further facts presented to the court.
As the hearing continues, the court is actively engaging with petitioners, the NTA, and the CBI to ascertain the full extent of the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024 exams. The upcoming hearing on July 11 is expected to shed more light on the investigation and the actions taken to address the paper leak. The Supreme Court remains committed to upholding the integrity of the medical entrance exam and ensuring a fair and transparent process for all aspiring candidates.