Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the National Testing Agency (NTA) to fully disclose information regarding the NEET-UG paper leak case. The directive includes details on when the leak occurred, the methods used to leak the papers, and the time interval between the leak and the NEET-UG examination held on May 5.
A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud is overseeing the case. The bench emphasized the need for transparency from the NTA on these critical aspects as the court reviewed pleas concerning alleged irregularities and malpractices in the NEET-UG 2024.
Given that the investigation has been assigned to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Supreme Court instructed that a status report be submitted by the investigating officer. This report should detail the findings related to the timing and mechanisms of the paper leak.
The court further mandated that the NTA disclose steps taken to identify the beneficiaries of the leak. Additionally, the Supreme Court queried the Centre and NTA about the feasibility of utilizing data analytics through the Cyber Forensics unit or another expert agency to pinpoint suspect cases. The Chief Justice’s bench stated that if such methods are possible, authorities should outline procedures to separate compromised from uncompromised cases.
Moreover, the Supreme Court requested disclosures on the procedures followed between the conclusion of the exam, including the retest for 1,563 students, and the start of the counseling process. The court sought clarification on how the identification of additional beneficiaries would affect the status of counseling.
The top court stressed the importance of preserving the integrity of the NEET examination to prevent future leaks. It suggested that the Centre consider forming a multidisciplinary committee to implement measures to avoid such incidents. Details of this committee, if formed, should be provided, including whether it can be effectively enhanced to include a diverse range of administrative and domain experts.
The court ordered that the reports be submitted by Wednesday, July 10, with affidavits shared with petitioners. The CBI’s report should also be recorded in the meantime.
Chief Justice Chandrachud concluded by stating, “Let there be confidence in the community.” The next hearing is scheduled for July 11.
