New Delhi: On Tuesday, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the central government and the National Testing Agency (NTA) in to a petition demanding the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2024 results. This call comes amid allegations that the exam, a highly competitive entrance test for undergraduate medical programs, was compromised due to a leak.
“It is not straightforward… just because the exam was conducted does not mean it is beyond reproach,” the court advised the NTA, adding, “The integrity of the exam has been compromised… thus, we require explanations.”
The court, however, ruled that the admission counseling process will proceed. Justices Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah stated, “We are not halting the counseling.” Following this, the issue was scheduled for a hearing on July 8 alongside a plea brought before Chief Justice DY Chandrachud.
The court was reviewing a new petition concerning the NEET-UG 2024 results controversy, which alleges score discrepancies and claims some students received preferential treatment.
The petition requested the cancellation of the May 5 exam scores.
It also called for a new examination to be administered.
The petitioners from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have argued that there are inconsistencies in the awarding grace marks, which they believe lack a “defined logic.” They have highlighted the issue by pointing out the occurrence of “statistically impossible” scores, such as students achieving a perfect score of 720 of 720.
“There is no defined logic for the allocation of grace marks, and no list detailing these marks has been provided. Additionally, the justification given for awarding grace marks is ‘wastage of time,’ which was not mentioned in the information bulletin before the exam,” the petitioners stated.
The petitioners have highlighted that 67 students from a single coaching center achieved a perfect score of 720. Additionally, they noted that over 13,000 students disputed a provisional answer key released by the NTA, pointing out that the provided solution was incorrect.
Emphasizing the risks associated with cheating in a medical examination, the plea stated, “This field demands a thorough grasp of scientific and medical knowledge… using dishonest methods pass an exam can in a lack of proficiency and can jeopardize patients’ lives.”
The petitioners pointed out that cheating in examinations “compromises the principles of meritocracy and equal opportunities, which are crucial for social mobility and fairness in society.”
“It sustains inequities by advantaging those who can afford to buy leaked exam papers or engage in dishonest practices, while disadvantaging those who depend on their diligence and merit to achieve success, thereby affecting society as a whole,” the plea stated.
On May 17, while the Chief Justice’s bench was hearing a related petition, the court issued a notice but did not stop the announcement results.
At the same time, the NTA has formed a high-powered committee to review the complaints of 1,600 students who have already taken the NEET 2024 exam.
