NEET-UG Exam Paper Leak: CJI Bench Convinced of Leak, Seeks Answers from NTA and Central Government

In a significant development in the NEET-UG 2024 exam case, petitioner Alakh Pandey revealed on Monday that the Chief Justice of India (CJI) bench was convinced that the paper had been leaked and is now seeking to determine the extent of the leak. According to Pandey, the CJI bench is keen to know the timeline of the paper’s preparation, which committee was responsible for preparing it, and how it was circulated to examination centers. The bench also wants to see the chain of custody of the paper to determine the time of the leak.

Pandey added that the court wants to determine whether the paper leak was a result of a systematic failure or the malpractices of some individuals. Advocate Shwetank, representing the petitioner, emphasized that the Supreme Court has raised several questions that need to be answered by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the central government. The court has given the NTA and the government three days to provide the necessary data, including when the paper was sent to the examination centers and when it was distributed to students.

The Supreme Court has observed that a leak has indeed taken place, and the question now is how widespread it was. The court has directed the NTA to identify the candidates who benefited from the paper leak and make a full disclosure about the leak, including when it occurred, how it happened, and the time duration between the leak and the actual conduct of the exam.

The court has also asked the investigating officer of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a status report on the investigation, including the material that has come to light so far. Senior Advocate Narender Hooda stated that the petitioner’s arguments for canceling the examination and holding a fresh one have been recorded in the order. The NTA, CBI, and the Union Government have been asked to file affidavits indicating whether tainted candidates can be separated from untainted ones. The CBI has been specifically asked to file a status report, and the investigating officer has been directed to place before the court the material gathered so far that is relevant to when the leak is alleged to have first taken place and the modality of the leak.

Furthermore, the court has asked the NTA to identify the examination centers or cities where the leak occurred. The Apex Court’s order has been seen as a significant step forward in the investigation into the NEET-UG paper leak, and it remains to be seen how the NTA and the government respond to the court’s queries.