SC to Hear Pleas on NEET-UG 2024 Controversy on Monday, Centre Opposes Exam Scrapping

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 7th July. The Supreme Court is set to hear a series of petitions related to the NEET-UG 2024 medical entrance exam controversy on Monday, including demands for its cancellation and allegations of malpractices. The Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA) have vehemently opposed scrapping the exam, arguing that such a move would unfairly impact lakhs of honest candidates.

According to the cause list for July 8, a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra will address 38 petitions concerning the exam. NEET-UG is conducted by the NTA for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other medical courses across India.

The Union education ministry and the NTA have faced criticism and protests following allegations ranging from question paper leaks to irregularities in exam conduct. Both entities have filed affidavits opposing the pleas for exam cancellation, re-testing, and court-monitored investigations.

In their affidavits, the Centre and NTA highlighted that the CBI has taken over cases from various states related to the alleged malpractices. They emphasized that no substantial evidence of widespread breaches in exam confidentiality has been found nationwide, arguing against the drastic measure of scrapping the entire examination and its results.

“The cancellation of the entire examination on the basis of alleged irregularities would be counterproductive and harmful to the career prospects of qualified candidates,” stated the ministry’s affidavit, underscoring the impact on over 23 lakh examinees who appeared across 4,750 centres in 571 cities.

The NTA reiterated that the NEET-UG 2024 was conducted fairly and securely, dismissing claims of mass malpractice as baseless and misleading. The agency defended its integrity in the exam process and asserted the importance of preserving the academic interests of students who participated without any wrongdoing.

Additionally, the government informed the court about a high-level expert committee formed to recommend reforms for transparent and fair conduct of future examinations by the NTA. This committee aims to enhance data security, streamline exam protocols, and improve the agency’s functioning.

The controversy, which led to protests and political debates, intensified after the revision of the rank list following the cancellation of grace marks for 1,563 candidates. The revised results, announced on July 1, saw the number of students sharing the top rank reduced from 67 to 61.

The Supreme Court hearing is expected to address these contentious issues surrounding NEET-UG 2024, impacting the future of medical education aspirants nationwide.