NEET-UG 2024 Hearing: SC Refuses to Cancel Exam, Says no Evidence to Suggest Systemic Violations

NEET-UG 2024 Hearing: The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected pleas seeking cancellation of the controversial NEET-UG 2024 medical entrance exam, saying there was no material to indicate systemic leak of question paper that could impair the sanctity of the exam.

A three-judge bench headed by D.Y. Chandrachud Chief Justice of India (CJI) said the re-examination would have “serious consequences” on about 23 lakh students and would hamper the availability of qualified medical professionals in the future.

The court, however, stressed that it was undisputed that the question paper leak had taken place in Hazaribagh and Patna. It highlighted that the CBI identified 155 students at these centers as direct beneficiaries of the leak.

Earlier in the proceedings, an expert panel from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi informed the top court that the fourth option of the disputed physics question in the exam is the correct answer. This is likely to affect the total marks of over four lakh candidates, including 44 students who had scored good marks in the exam.

NTA will declare NEET-UG final results in two days: Education Minister

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday said that the National Testing Agency will declare the final results of NEET-UG 2024 within two days.

Speaking at a press conference, the minister said that the NEET-UG 2024 merit list will be revised as per the observations made by the Supreme Court today (July 23). Those found involved in examination malpractice will have to face consequences.

Last week, the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the exam, faced tough questions from the court over the distribution of wrong question papers in eight centres, including Jhajjar, and subsequently giving grace marks to students for this reason. On the other hand, the petitioners were asked whether they had any contemporaneous evidence to show that the question paper leaks were widespread and not local.

Also Read: As NTA Postpones CUET-UG Results, JNU, DU Delay UG 1st Semester Classes