New Delhi, Jun 18 : The Supreme Court emphasized on Tuesday that even the slightest trace of negligence in the conduct of the NEET-UG 2024 examination must be rigorously addressed. Highlighting the rigorous efforts students put into preparing for these exams, the apex court underscored that the litigation surrounding the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate)-2024 should not be adversarial.
“Just a 0.001 per cent negligence by anyone must be thoroughly dealt with,” asserted a vacation bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti to the counsel representing the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA), which administers the all India pre-medical entrance test.
The bench was hearing two separate petitions that raised grievances, including issues related to grace marks awarded to students during the examination held on May 5.
“We understand the hard work that students undergo, especially in preparing for these exams,” the bench remarked, adding, “Imagine if someone who has deceived the system becomes a doctor; it would be detrimental to society.”
Addressing the NTA’s counsel, the bench stressed the importance of firm representation by the agency responsible for conducting the examination, urging clarity in acknowledging and addressing any mistakes promptly to instill confidence in their performance.
The Supreme Court indicated that the petitions would be heard on July 8 along with other pending cases, including those seeking directions to conduct a fresh examination. It directed the NTA and the Centre to file responses to these new petitions within two weeks.
During the hearing, when an advocate raised concerns about a specific exam question, the bench assured, “They (NTA and Centre) will respond to it.”
“We are prepared to extend our hearing into the evening to understand the purpose of your submissions in these matters,” the bench observed.
Earlier, the apex court had sought responses from the Centre and the NTA on a plea seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into allegations of question paper leaks and other irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024 examination.
On June 13, the Centre and the NTA informed the court that they had revoked the grace marks awarded to 1,563 candidates who had taken the exam for admission to MBBS and other courses. These candidates were given the option to either retake the exam or relinquish the compensatory marks granted to them due to the loss of time.
The NEET-UG examination, conducted across 4,750 centers on May 5, saw participation from around 24 lakh candidates. The results, initially expected on June 14, were announced earlier on June 4 due to the completion of answer sheet evaluations.
The exam has been marred by allegations of question paper leaks in states like Bihar and other irregularities, prompting protests in various cities and petitions in high courts, including the Supreme Court. In Delhi, students staged protests on June 10 demanding an investigation into alleged irregularities.
A total of 67 students achieved a perfect score of 720, a first in NTA history, with six students from a center in Haryana’s Faridabad being among them, sparking suspicions of irregularities. Allegations have suggested that the awarding of grace marks contributed to 67 students sharing the top rank.
The NEET-UG examination, overseen by the NTA, serves as the gateway for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other related courses in both government and private institutions nationwide.
