NEET UG 2024 SC Hearing: No Re-Test Ordered Despite Paper Leak
In a significant decision today, the Supreme Court announced that there will be no re-test for the NEET UG 2024 exam. This decision came after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) confirmed a paper leak at the Hazaribagh center.
During the hearing, the CBI revealed that some of the devices used by the gang responsible for the leak were destroyed, while others were recovered and are now under investigation. The Chief Justice of India (CJI) acknowledged systemic deficiencies in the exam's conduct.
Adding to this, the CJI referred to a report from IIT Delhi, led by Professor Banerjee, which confirmed the correctness of a disputed answer. The Supreme Court accepted this report and directed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to re-tally the NEET UG results based on the validated answer.
In response to various pleas, including one from Madhya Pradesh advocating for exemptions for tribal and rural students in case of a re-test, the Court decided against re-conducting the exam. Senior advocate Hooda argued that the paper leak, disseminated via WhatsApp, likely affected a broader area beyond Patna, suggesting a re-test for all qualified candidates.
The bench, comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra, is addressing nearly 40 pleas related to the NEET UG 2024 irregularities. Despite the leak, the Court's decision to forgo a re-test will stand, with the results being re-calculated based on the IIT Delhi report.
This ruling marks a crucial step in maintaining the integrity of the NEET UG exam process while addressing the concerns of those affected by the leak.
