SC seeks NTA response on NEET-UG 2024 re-examination due to alleged malpractices

The Supreme Court has requested a response from the National Testing Agency (NTA) following a plea for a fresh NEET-UG 2024 examination. This plea arises amid allegations of a paper leak and other malpractices, which student groups claim have compromised the exam’s integrity. On Monday, various student organizations, including the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), demonstrated against these alleged irregularities.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court emphasized that the “sanctity of the exam seemed to have been affected” and therefore needed the NTA’s explanation. The plea highlighted that the alleged paper leak violated Article 14 (right to equality) of the Constitution by unfairly advantaging certain candidates. Despite these concerns, the court refused to halt the ongoing counselling process for selected candidates and scheduled the case for a hearing on July 8.

Advocate Mathews J Nedumpara, representing the petitioners, urged the court to pause the counselling process. However, the court maintained its stance, allowing the counselling to proceed. Alakh Pandey, CEO of Physics Wallah, remarked on the court’s acknowledgement of potential issues in the examination process but noted that no relief was provided regarding the counselling.

Pandey added that their Public Interest Litigation (PIL) addressed not only the paper leak but also issues related to grace marks and the overall transparency of the NTA. This PIL is set to be listed shortly for further deliberation.

On Monday, student groups staged protests to demand an independent and transparent investigation into the NEET-UG 2024 irregularities. The Students’ Federation of India led a demonstration at the Union education ministry, calling for a more reliable examination system. Avijit Ghosh, SFI member and vice-president of JNU Students’ Union, emphasized the need for an independent investigation.

Similarly, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) protested at the NTA headquarters in Okhla, demanding a CBI investigation. They called for increased security measures at test centres, conducting examinations at government centres, and the deployment of government-appointed invigilators to ensure transparency.

NEET-UG 2024 Results and Controversies

The NTA announced the NEET-UG 2024 results on June 5, revealing that 67 candidates achieved a perfect score of 720, including six from a single centre in Haryana. This result raised suspicions and allegations of irregularities. The 2024 exam saw a significant rise in competition, with 13.16 lakh candidates qualifying, compared to 11.44 lakh in 2023.

About NEET-UG

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) is administered by the NTA for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and related courses in government and private institutions across India.