Supreme Court Postpones NEET UG 2024 Cancellation Hearing to July 18 Amid Question Paper Leak Allegations
The Supreme Court of India has deferred the hearing of petitions seeking the cancellation of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) 2024, originally scheduled for Thursday, to July 18. This decision was made by a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, to allow all parties involved to examine the replies filed by the Central government and the National Testing Agency (NTA).
The Court is addressing a batch of petitions that allege significant irregularities, including accusations of a mass question paper leak. Petitioners are calling for a re-examination based on these claims, while some counter that the alleged leaks are isolated incidents rather than widespread breaches.
On June 11, the Supreme Court had directed the NTA to respond to certain petitions but had refused to halt the ongoing counselling process for medical college admissions.
During a hearing on July 8, the Court stated, "We need to determine to what extent the exam was compromised to decide whether a retest is warranted." This highlights the Court's need for substantial evidence before making a decision on such a significant matter.
The Central government and the NTA argue that there is no need for a re-examination, asserting that there is no evidence of large-scale breaches. In a recent affidavit, the Central government cited a data analytics study conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, which found no abnormalities and indicated a very low likelihood of malpractice.
The Centre stated,"An exhaustive technical evaluation of the data about NEET(UG) 2024 was undertaken by IIT Madras," emphasizing the thoroughness of the analysis, which included parameters like marks distribution and city-wise rank distribution.
The NTA also reiterated this position, pointing out that a video purportedly showing a mass paper leak on May 5 was edited to create a "false impression of an early leak." This assertion aims to debunk widespread cheating claims and reinforce the examination process's integrity.
As the Supreme Court prepares for the next hearing on July 18, the future of NEET UG 2024 remains uncertain. The outcome will significantly impact thousands of aspiring medical students across India. The Court's thorough examination of all evidence and arguments will be crucial in determining whether the integrity of the exam was indeed compromised and if a re-examination is necessary.
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