The 2024 NEET-UG – for entrance to undergraduate medical courses – can only be conducted again if the “sanctity” of the test held on May 5 was “lost on a large scale” as a result of leaked questions the Supreme Court said Thursday morning as it heard over 40 petitions asking for a re-test.
The court also heard petitions from the under-fire NTA – the National Testing Agency, the central body responsible for the conduct of competitive exams – seeking transfer of cases filed by various state police forces to the respective High Courts to avoid potential duplication and confusion.
The day’s hearing began with Chief Justice DY Chandrachud remarking on the urgency of this situation as lakhs of students are waiting on the outcome of the court’s decision. “We will give priority to the NEET matter because of social ramifications,” the Chief Justice said.
The first significant moment was the Chief Justice’s sharp response to a petitioner’s request to void results of the exam for all students on grounds the leaked paper may have compromised the scores.
“You have to show us that the leak was systematic that it affected the entire examination… so as to warrant cancellation of the entire exam…” the court responded, “Second, tell us what should be the direction of the investigation in this matter,” the Chief Justice-led three-member bench said firmly.
“If we accept your wider submission (that leaked question papers compromised the exam results) we would also like your assistance on the lines on which the investigation must happen.”
The court also pointed out it may be unfeasible to identify and “segregate” the hundreds, or thousands, of students who may have conspired to access questions beforehand.
On the numbers of petitioners – seen as crucial to establish the strength of petitions seeking cancellation – the NTA responded, “There are 131 not within the 1.08 lakh (students selected for admission to private colleges) who want a re-test and there are 254 who are opposing the re-test.”
Controversy over the 2024 NEET-UG exam – attended by nearly 24 lakh aspiring medical professionals – broke last month after allegations the question paper had been leaked – subsequent inquiries indicated the leak was orchestrated by a national ‘solver gang’ network – on social media.
The first red flags were the unusually high number of perfect scores; a record 67 students, including six from one coaching centre, scored a maximum 720. Questions were also asked over the award of ‘grace marks’ – not exam protocol, according to the authorities – to 1,563 students.