NEET-UG Row: 1563 Candidates Face Scorecard Cancellation, Re-Test Option Provided

In a significant development concerning NEET-UG 2024, the Centre informed the Supreme Court on Thursday about its decision to cancel the scorecards of 1563 candidates who were earlier awarded grace marks. These candidates will now be offered the opportunity to take a re-test.

During the ongoing proceedings, the National Testing Agency (NTA) disclosed plans to issue a re-examination notice specifically for these 1563 candidates by Thursday. This decision follows petitions filed in the Supreme Court seeking the cancellation and re-examination of NEET-UG 2024, citing concerns over alleged paper leaks and irregularities in the allocation of grace marks.

A vacation bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah is currently hearing the initial petition filed by Shivangi Mishra and nine others on June 1. The court’s attention is also drawn to three additional petitions seeking similar actions, including a stay on the counselling process.

The Supreme Court had previously issued notices to the central government and the NTA in response to these petitions. It expressed concerns over the integrity of the NEET-UG exam, particularly in light of allegations surrounding grace marks distribution and other irregularities. However, the court did not halt the ongoing counselling process for undergraduate medical admissions.

Further hearings are scheduled for July 8 to address the petitions advocating for the cancellation and re-examination of NEET-UG 2024. The petitioners argue that the awarding of grace marks to over 1500 candidates has compromised the fairness of the examination, echoing widespread discontent among students and parents alike.

The NTA has responded to various concerns raised during the proceedings, including issues highlighted in a viral video depicting a candidate’s torn OMR sheet, which sparked additional scrutiny of the examination process.