SC Directs NTA to Reveal Details on NEET UG 2024 Paper Leak

The Supreme Court has ordered the National Testing Agency (NTA) to provide a detailed account of the paper leak that occurred during the NEET UG 2024 exam. The court, comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, heard pleas from petitioners who alleged irregularities in the conduct of the exam and sought a re-test and cancellation of the previous results.

The court has directed the NTA to disclose information on three key aspects: when the paper leak first took place, how the question papers were disseminated, and the time duration between the leak and the actual conduct of the exam. The next hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

The Supreme Court bench acknowledged that the paper leak is an admitted fact and that the integrity of the exam has been compromised. The court’s decision comes amid concerns over the sanctity of national-level entrance examinations, including NEET UG, which have been marred by allegations of paper leaks and malpractices.

The Centre and the NTA have filed separate affidavits, expressing their unwillingness to scrap the exam and hold a re-examination. The Centre argued that the CBI has taken over cases registered in different states and that scrapping the exam would be unfair to the lakhs of honest candidates who attempted the question paper.

The NTA, in its affidavit, claimed that the cancellation of the exam would be “hugely counterproductive and significantly harmful to the larger public interest, especially to the career prospects of the qualified candidates.” The agency also stated that the claim of “mass malpractice” during the exam is “completely unfounded, misleading, and lacks any basis.”

The government has formed a high-level panel of experts to suggest effective measures for conducting transparent, smooth, and fair examinations by the NTA. The panel’s recommendations are expected to play a crucial role in addressing the concerns surrounding the NEET UG 2024 exam.

The Supreme Court’s directive is a significant development in the ongoing controversy, and it remains to be seen how the NTA responds to the court’s demands. The court’s decision will have far-reaching implications for the lakhs of students who appeared for the exam and are eagerly awaiting the results.