On July 8, 2024, The Supreme Court has directed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to provide a full disclosure report detailing the alleged NEET-UG 2024 examination paper leak, a case that could impact the future of approximately 2.4 million medical aspirants.
Leading the bench, Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud highlighted that if the integrity of the NEET-UG 2024 medical entrance exam was compromised through social media leaks, a re-test must be seriously considered.
Chief Justice Chandrachud noted that if the leak occurred through platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, or other electronic means, it could spread quickly. The bench, also comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, heard the matter and scheduled the next hearing for Thursday.
Petitions challenging alleged malpractices and irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024, conducted by the NTA for medical college admissions, were the focal point of the session. The outcome of this case will significantly impact millions of students aspiring to enter the medical field.
Recently, the Central Government and the NTA argued that cancelling the exam would be "counterproductive" and "seriously jeopardize" the efforts of numerous honest candidates. They asserted that there was no substantial evidence to suggest a large-scale breach of confidentiality.
The NEET UG 2024 examination took place across numerous centers in India on May 5, with results declared on June 4, ten days ahead of schedule. Notably, the NTA awarded full marks to dozens of students, with 67 individuals emerging as toppers.
For undergraduate medical seats allocated under the All India Quota (AIQ), the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) was scheduled to start the counseling procedure on July 6. However, this process has been postponed until further notice, following protests from students and organizations alleging irregularities in the NTA's marking system and multiple claims of paper leaks. Concerns have been raised that a significant number of top scorers came from specific regions or exam centers.
In a recent development, the Centre and the NTA informed the court on June 13 that they had revoked the grace marks awarded to 1,563 candidates. These candidates were given the option to either retake the test or forgo the compensatory marks granted for time lost.
As the Supreme Court prepares for the next hearing, the future of the NEET-UG 2024 examination and the fate of millions of aspiring doctors hang in the balance.
