Supreme Court Issues Notice to NTA, Refuses to Halt NEET UG 2024 Counselling:
The Supreme Court of India has issued a notice to the National Testing Agency (NTA) in response to allegations of a NEET 2024 paper leak.
“Sanctity has been affected, so we need answers,” the bench tells NTA.
However, the court refused to halt the NEET UG 2024 counselling process. The matter will be further heard on July 8, 2024.
Supreme Court Hearing on NEET 2024 Petition:
Shivangi Mishra and nine others filed the petition on June 1. A hearing by a vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah.
During the hearing, the NTA’s counsel requested that the petition be tagged with a similar earlier petition scheduled for July 8. The bench agreed and posted the current petition on the same date.
Advocate Mathews J Nedumpara, representing the petitioners, sought a stay on the NEET UG counselling. But the bench refused, stating, “Let the counselling start, we are not stopping the counselling.”
Allegations Surrounding NEET UG 2024 Results:
The Supreme Court is also hearing multiple petitions seeking the cancellation of NEET UG 2024 due to alleged paper leaks and irregularities. Similar petitions are pending in the Delhi and Calcutta High Courts. One petition specifically mentions allegations of a paper leak in Patna and incorrect question papers in Rajasthan.
Also read: Supreme Court Petition Calls for NEET UG 2024 Re-Exam Over Alleged Irregularities
On May 17, the Supreme Court declined to stay the NEET UG results, citing the nationwide impact of the exams. This year’s NEET UG results shocked many, as 67 candidates secured perfect 720 marks.
Allegations of a paper leak circulated widely on social media, with many questioning the validity of such high scores. Multiple concerns arose regarding the presence of multiple top-ranking students from the same center and the awarding of grace marks for “loss of time.”
Government Responds with Panel Formation:
In response to the controversy, the NTA announced that the Education Ministry has formed a four-member panel to re-evaluate the results of over 1,500 students who received grace marks in NEET UG 2024.
Also read: Maharashtra Government Seeks NEET 2024 Cancellation Amid Allegations of Paper Leak
The National Testing Agency (NTA) said on Saturday that the education ministry has set up a four-member committee to review the grace marks given to more than 1,500 students after claims of mark inflation in the NEET UG medical entrance exam.
