Supreme Court Hearing on NEET UG 2024 Exam Cancellation

Overview: Today, the Supreme Court will hear a petition to cancel the NEET UG 2024 exam and the related counselling and seat allotment process, set to begin on July 6. Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti will preside over the case. The petitioner seeks a fresh exam under court supervision due to a paper leak scandal.

Key Developments:

1. Petition for CBI Investigation:
   • The bench will also consider a request for a CBI investigation into the alleged NEET UG 2024 paper leak.
2. Government’s Stance:
   • Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stated on June 20 that no re-examination would be held despite the leak. This decision aims to protect the interests of genuine candidates, especially from rural areas.
   • Pradhan assured that those responsible for the leak would face justice and emphasized the government’s commitment to maintaining the examination process’s integrity.
3. High-Level Committee:

Also Read: NEET UG 2024 re-Exam: Only 813 of 1563 candidates appeared 

1. • Pradhan announced plans to form a high-level committee to review the National Testing Agency (NTA)’s operations. The committee will work to enhance transparency and prevent future errors, aiming for a zero-error examination process.
2. Confession and Network:
   • Anurag Yadav, an accused in the leak, confessed to receiving the leaked paper a day before the exam from his uncle, a Junior Engineer. He identified Amit Anand as the mastermind of the network.
3. Student Outrage and Protests:
   • Yadav’s confession sparked outrage among students. The NEET UG 2024 results, declared on June 4, showed 67 students achieving perfect scores, raising suspicions of malpractice.
   • The NTA’s decision on June 13 to re-evaluate students who received grace marks has not quelled the discontent. Protests led by the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) demand justice and the dissolution of the NTA.
4. Political Accusations:
   • The Indian National Congress accused the Modi government of failing to address multiple paper leaks over the past five years, affecting 1.75 crore candidates. They allege that the government is trying to shield the NTA.
5. Supreme Court’s Orders:
   • On June 20, the Supreme Court refused to halt NEET counselling but demanded a response from the NTA by July 8. The court emphasized the need for accountability and improvements if errors were identified.
6. NTA Actions:
   • The NTA announced the invalidation of 1,563 candidates’ scorecards who received grace marks due to exam disruptions. These candidates will retake the exam on June 23, with results expected by June 30, to keep the counselling schedule on track.

Future Proceedings:

• The next court hearing is scheduled for July 8, 2024, to address procedural lapses and allegations of unfair practices in the NEET-UG 2024 examination process. The focus remains on ensuring fairness and maintaining the credibility of one of India’s most critical entrance exams.