Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that there will be no re-examination for the 2024 NEET-UG, asserting that there is no evidence of a systemic breach compromising the exam’s integrity despite localized leaks.
The court acknowledged the paper leak but found no substantial proof that the overall results were compromised, emphasizing the absence of a widespread breach. “Data on record is not indicative of a systemic leak of the question paper, which would lead to the destruction of the sanctity of the exam,” the court stated.
The decision was made while hearing multiple petitions demanding the cancellation or re-conducting of the NEET-UG exam, a critical qualifying test for undergraduate medical courses.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, leading the bench, highlighted the significant repercussions of ordering a re-test for over 23 lakh students. He pointed out the logistical challenges and potential disruption to the academic calendar and future medical professional availability.
“The court is mindful of the fact that directing a fresh exam would have serious consequences on students, including destruction of admission schedule, effects on education, and impact on availability of medical professionals in the future,” Chief Justice Chandrachud said.
The court also expressed concerns about the adverse impact on marginalized students, reinforcing its earlier interim stance that a re-test would be the “last option.”
The court’s decision came despite recognizing the leakage of question papers at centers in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, and Patna, Bihar. The Chief Justice referred to the CBI’s findings that identified 155 students as beneficiaries of the leak at these centers.
The Hazaribagh leak, pinpointed as ‘Ground Zero’ by the CBI, led to multiple arrests, including the alleged ringleader, Rakesh Ranjan, alias Rocky. The CBI continues to investigate the nationwide ‘solver gang’ involved in the leaks.
The controversy surrounding the NEET-UG exam emerged after the results were declared, revealing an unusually high number of perfect scores. A significant focus was on a coaching center in Haryana’s Bahadurgarh, which alone produced six perfect scores.
Despite the leaks, the court concluded that the exam’s integrity remained intact and declined to order a re-test. The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting the exam, came under scrutiny but was ultimately not held accountable for systemic malpractice.
