The Supreme Court of India on July 23 has dismissed petitions seeking a retest for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Undergraduate (NEET UG) 2024, which over 23 lakh students appeared for. The verdict, delivered on Tuesday, marks the culmination of a contentious legal battle surrounding allegations of question paper leaks and subsequent demands for exam cancellation.
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, leading a three-judge bench, pronounced the judgement, stating that there was insufficient evidence to suggest a systemic breach that would invalidate the sanctity of the NEET UG 2024 exam results.
The crux of the petitions lay in accusations of a leaked question paper on May 5, the exam day, purportedly originating from Hazaribagh and Patna. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had presented findings suggesting localised breaches, yet the Supreme Court found no conclusive proof of widespread malpractice affecting the entirety of the exam conducted across 571 cities, including 14 overseas locations.
During the proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta presented data affirming that the number of successful candidates remained consistent with previous years, indicating no unusual spikes that would suggest mass cheating or unfair advantage due to the alleged leaks. The court also ordered an expert review by IIT Delhi on a contentious Physics question, which had previously sparked controversy due to multiple correct answers awarded grace marks.
Senior advocate Narendar Hooda, representing the petitioners, argued for a retest, citing systemic failures and potential advantages gained unfairly by certain candidates. However, the court maintained that while individual instances of malpractice were regrettable, they did not substantiate the need for invalidating the entire examination.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan welcomed the verdict and emphasised the government’s commitment to upholding the sanctity of examinations and ensuring transparency in the admission process for medical colleges. He reiterated zero tolerance towards any form of malpractice and assured stringent action against any individuals found guilty of compromising the integrity of the NEET UG.
With the court’s decision now settled, the National Testing Agency (NTA) is set to release the final results of NEET UG 2024 within the next two days. The merit list will be adjusted according to the Supreme Court’s directives, particularly in relation to the controversial Physics question that had led to discrepancies in scoring.
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Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, leading a three-judge bench, pronounced the judgement, stating that there was insufficient evidence to suggest a systemic breach that would invalidate the sanctity of the NEET UG 2024 exam results.
The crux of the petitions lay in accusations of a leaked question paper on May 5, the exam day, purportedly originating from Hazaribagh and Patna. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had presented findings suggesting localised breaches, yet the Supreme Court found no conclusive proof of widespread malpractice affecting the entirety of the exam conducted across 571 cities, including 14 overseas locations.
During the proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta presented data affirming that the number of successful candidates remained consistent with previous years, indicating no unusual spikes that would suggest mass cheating or unfair advantage due to the alleged leaks. The court also ordered an expert review by IIT Delhi on a contentious Physics question, which had previously sparked controversy due to multiple correct answers awarded grace marks.
Senior advocate Narendar Hooda, representing the petitioners, argued for a retest, citing systemic failures and potential advantages gained unfairly by certain candidates. However, the court maintained that while individual instances of malpractice were regrettable, they did not substantiate the need for invalidating the entire examination.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan welcomed the verdict and emphasised the government’s commitment to upholding the sanctity of examinations and ensuring transparency in the admission process for medical colleges. He reiterated zero tolerance towards any form of malpractice and assured stringent action against any individuals found guilty of compromising the integrity of the NEET UG.
With the court’s decision now settled, the National Testing Agency (NTA) is set to release the final results of NEET UG 2024 within the next two days. The merit list will be adjusted according to the Supreme Court’s directives, particularly in relation to the controversial Physics question that had led to discrepancies in scoring.
The post appeared first on .