New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India is set to review petitions concerning the NEET-UG 2024 medical entrance exam today which took place on May 5.
The bench, headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and including Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, will consider over 40 pleas related to the exam.
These petitions cover a range of issues, such as calls for the exam’s cancellation, demands for a retest, and allegations of malpractice during NEET-UG 2024. They also request the transfer of ongoing cases against the National Testing Agency (NTA) from various high courts to a single jurisdiction.
Chief Justice Chandrachud had previously stated on July 8 that ordering a retest for the nearly 2.3 million students would be considered only as a last resort, citing the significant financial impact it would have on many candidates, particularly those from low-income backgrounds.
The central issue remains whether the Supreme Court will mandate a retest. During the previous hearing, the need for an in-depth investigation and comprehensive report was emphasized before any final decision could be made. The court specified criteria to assess the necessity of a retest, which include the systemic nature of the breach, its impact on the exam’s integrity, and the feasibility of distinguishing between affected and unaffected candidates.
Should the breach prove to be widespread and it becomes impossible to differentiate between compromised and uncompromised candidates, the court might consider ordering a retest.
The Centre and the NTA have contended that cancelling the exam would detrimentally affect the futures of numerous sincere candidates and argue that there is insufficient evidence to suggest a major breach occurred.
On the day of the exam, May 5, more than 2.33 million students appeared for NEET-UG at 4,750 centres across 571 cities, including 14 international locations. The NTA administers NEET-UG for entry into MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other related courses at both government and private institutions throughout India.
