New Delhi, June 18, 2024 — The Supreme Court on Tuesday delivered a stern rebuke to the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Centre regarding allegations of paper leaks and malpractices in the NEET-UG 2024 examination. The top court emphasized the importance of accountability, stating that even the slightest negligence should be addressed rigorously.
“If there is 0.001% negligence on the part of anyone, it should be thoroughly dealt with,” the bench remarked. The justices underscored the significant efforts of students preparing for these crucial exams, highlighting the potential consequences of misconduct. “Just imagine a doctor treating who has passed like this and needs to be checked,” they said, stressing the gravity of the situation.
The Supreme Court instructed the Centre and the NTA to approach the petitions against NEET-UG not as adversarial litigation but as issues requiring rectification if mistakes were found. The court directed the NTA to act fairly, urging them to acknowledge any errors and take corrective measures. “As an agency conducting the examination, you must act fair. If there is a mistake, say yes, this is a mistake, and this is the action we are going to take. At least that inspires confidence in your performance,” the bench stated.
The Supreme Court’s comments come amid a series of petitions alleging question paper leaks, the awarding of grace marks, and a significant increase in high scores. AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj called for government action and a thorough investigation, emphasizing the future of 24 lakh students. “The government should take action and conduct an investigation. I think the members of Parliament should discuss this issue,” Bharadwaj said.
On June 14, the Supreme Court issued notices to the Centre and the NTA following a plea for a CBI investigation into the question paper leak allegations. This notice came after the Centre’s decision to cancel the scorecards of 1,563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates who had been awarded grace marks. The Centre assured the court that affected students would soon be notified of their revised scores, excluding the previously awarded grace marks.
The Supreme Court will continue hearing the matter on July 8, 2024.
