The Supreme Court is set to hear fresh petitions today concerning alleged leaks and malpractices surrounding the NEET-UG 2024 examination. The matter will be addressed by a vacation bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice SVN Bhatti.
The new petitions include ten filed by 49 students and the ‘Student Federation of India’, seeking cancellation of the examination and a fresh conduct. They have also urged for an investigation into the irregularities by either an independent agency or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Additionally, the petitions demand a post-examination analysis and forensic inquiry into candidates scoring 620 marks and above.
Four petitions have also been filed by the National Testing Agency (NTA), requesting the transfer of pending cases related to the NEET-UG exam from various high courts to the Supreme Court.
Earlier, on Wednesday, the Supreme Court declined to halt NEET counselling and rejected a plea to direct the CBI to investigate the alleged paper leaks and malpractices. Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta emphasized the need for hearing all parties involved before deciding on a CBI probe.
The bench issued notices to the NTA in response to four separate pleas related to the NEET exam row, scheduling the next hearing for July 8 after seeking the agency’s response within two weeks.
During a previous hearing, the Supreme Court underscored the importance of addressing any negligence, no matter how minor, in handling the examination process. Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti advised the NTA and the Centre to view the petitions not as adversarial litigation but as opportunities to rectify any errors.
The NEET-UG examination, a crucial step for admission to undergraduate medical courses in India, has faced significant scrutiny due to alleged irregularities, prompting legal action and calls for thorough investigation.
As the Supreme Court convenes today, stakeholders await further developments in this high-profile case that impacts thousands of aspiring medical students across the country.
