The Supreme Court, today August 2, clarified that it did not cancel the NEET-UG 2024 examination amid concerns of a paper leak, citing no systemic breach of its integrity.
In its detailed judgment following the July 23 order, a bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra emphasised that the National Testing Agency (NTA) must stop inconsistent practices that do not benefit students, as per a PTI report.
"We did not cancel the NEET-UG examination because there was no systemic breach of sanctity of the exam beyond Hazaribagh and Patna," the bench stated.
The court issued several directives and expanded the scope of the Centre-appointed panel led by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan to review the NTA's operations and suggest examination reforms. The expanded panel is expected to submit its report by September 30, outlining measures to address deficiencies in the examination system.
The bench said the Radhakrishnan panel should consider developing standard operating procedures for adopting technological advancements to enhance the examination process. The court urged the Centre to rectify issues arising during the NEET-UG examination.
On July 23, the Supreme Court dismissed petitions seeking cancellation and re-examination, asserting that there was no evidence of a "systemic breach" of the exam's sanctity. The court noted that ordering a retest would severely disrupt over 23 lakh students’ schedules and impact medical education, as reported by the PTI.
The verdict, delivered amid intense scrutiny and protests against alleged malpractices in the May 5 exam, was a significant relief for the NDA government and the NTA.
Over 23 lakh students appeared for NEET-UG 2024, aspiring for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other related courses. The Supreme Court remarked that the evidence did not suggest a widespread breach that would compromise the exam's sanctity.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan responded to the Supreme Court's decision, stating that it vindicated the government's stance. "Supreme Court's observation on no systemic breach of sanctity in NEET-UG exam and therefore, no re-exam vindicates the stand of the government," he posted on X (formerly Twitter). He emphasised the government's commitment to a “tamper-free, transparent and zero-error examination system," and pledged to implement the high-level committee's recommendations promptly.
The Union Education Ministry had established the seven member panel headed by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan on June 22 to review the NTA's functioning and recommend necessary reforms.
The Supreme Court's interim verdict reinforces the legitimacy of NEET-UG 2024, providing assurance to the large cohort of students and educators.
