The Supreme Court is set to pronounce a detailed judgment today, explaining its decision to dismiss petitions seeking the cancellation and re-test of the NEET-UG 2024 exam. The examination, which faced allegations of paper leaks and other malpractices, saw over 23 lakh students compete for admissions to MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH courses.
Last month, a bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, along with Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, delivered an interim verdict on a batch of petitions. These petitions sought a re-test to preserve the exam’s sanctity following reported large-scale malpractices. The bench’s interim order highlighted that the data provided by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and other entities did not support claims of a systemic leak or widespread fraud significant enough to invalidate the exam results.
The NEET-UG 2024, held on May 5, became controversial due to reported malpractices. The NTA and the NDA government faced severe backlash, with protests erupting both on the streets and in Parliament. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented the Centre and the NTA, while senior advocates Narender Hooda, Sanjay Hegde, and Mathews Nedumpara represented the petitioners.
Given the urgency and the impact on millions of students, the bench reconvened late in the evening to dictate its order, instead of reserving its verdict. Chief Justice Chandrachud, in the interim order, acknowledged confirmed leaks in Hazaribagh and Patna but emphasized the need for a nuanced approach, distinguishing between tainted and untainted students. The court concluded that the malpractices, though present, were not pervasive enough to warrant canceling the entire exam.
Ordering a re-test, the court opined, would have severe repercussions, disrupting the admission schedule, affecting medical education, and disadvantaging marginalized groups benefiting from reservation policies. “Ordering cancellation of the entire exam was not justified on application of ‘settled principles propounded by this court on the basis of material on record,'” the bench stated.
Additionally, the court ruled on a disputed physics question in the exam, accepting the expert report from IIT Delhi, which confirmed a single correct answer. “In view of the experts’ determination, we have no manner of doubt with regard to the correct option… we accept the IIT Delhi report and accordingly the NTA shall re-tally the NEET UG result on the basis that option 4 represents the only correct answer to the question,” the court said.
Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed its first charge sheet in the paper leak case, naming 13 people as accused. Among those named are Nitish Kumar, Amit Anand, Sikander Yadvendu, Ashutosh Kumar-1, Roshan Kumar, Manish Prakash, Ashutosh Kumar-2, Akhilesh Kumar, Avdesh Kumar, Anurag Yadav, Abhishek Kumar, Shivnandan Kumar, and Ayush Raj.
A CBI spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday, “CBI has utilized advanced forensic techniques, artificial intelligence technology, CCTV footage, tower location analysis, etc. to gather evidence against the accused.”
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