NEET-UG 2024 Row: SC Says NTA Must Avoid ‘Flip Flop;' Leaks Limited To Patna, Hazaribagh

Picture source: ANI

New Delhi: The Supreme Court issued a directive to the National Testing Agency (NTA) to prevent any further ‘flip-flops' concerning the NEET-UG 2024 exam on Friday. The court said that such inconsistencies in a national examination are detrimental to students' interests. 

A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has mandated that the expert committee rectify the deficiencies in the NEET-UG exam system. 

The Supreme Court was explaining its decision not to cancel the 2024 NEET-UG medical entrance exam, despite ongoing controversies over alleged paper leaks and other irregularities. 

SC said it didn't cancel NEET-UG exam as there was no systematic breach of sanctity but NTA must avoid ‘flip-flop'. The apex court said that the paper leak was restricted to Patna and Hazaribagh. 

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, also said the expert committee must rectify the deficiencies in the exam system.

On the verdict, advocate Shwetank Sailakwal told ANI that the top court has acknowledged the paper leak incidents in Hazaribagh and Patna and formed a committee to address them. The Supreme Court instructed the committee to incorporate all the points specified in the judgment, he added.

Sailakwal further said, “SC directed that you have to take care of the travelling of the paper, CCTV cameras have to be installed and impersonation may not happen. They also directed the committee to submit the report before the Supreme Court. The time granted to the committee was two months, which has been extended by some time..." 

The Supreme Court stated that, due to the expanded scope of the panel's responsibilities, the committee is expected to deliver its report by September 30 on strategies to address flaws in the examination system. The bench also advised the Radhakrishnan panel to develop standard operating procedures for integrating technological advancements to enhance the examination system.

The court directed the Centre to address the problems that occurred during the NEET-UG examination. On July 23, the Supreme Court rejected requests to cancel and retake the exam, stating there was no evidence to prove that the exam had been compromised by a 'systemic breach.'

More than 23 lakh students took the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) in 2024 for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other related programs.