SC Hearing Updates: CJI Warns Against Self-Denial on NEET-UG 2024 Paper Leak

The Supreme Court has made it clear that there is no doubt that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2024, held on May 5, was compromised due to a paper leak. Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud, leading a Bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, emphasized that a re-test can only be considered once it is established whether the leak was an isolated incident or a widespread issue.

The CJI’s remarks came as the court heard nearly 30 petitions seeking a fresh exam on grounds of paper leak, OMR sheet manipulation, impersonation, and cheating. However, the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the exam, have argued that scrapping the exam would be counterproductive and jeopardize the prospects of lakhs of honest candidates in the absence of concrete evidence of a large-scale breach of confidentiality.

The Bench has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit a report on the status of its investigation by the next date of hearing, scheduled for July 11. The NTA has also been ordered to provide information on the nature of the leak and the time gap between the leak and the actual conduct of the examination.

The CJI’s words of caution came as he urged the parties involved not to be in self-denial about what had happened. He noted that if the paper leak occurred on social media, it was likely to spread like a wildfire, highlighting the gravity of the situation.

The NEET-UG exam is conducted by the NTA for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country. The controversy surrounding the exam has sparked widespread concern and debate, with many calling for a re-test to ensure the integrity of the examination process.

The Centre and the NTA have maintained that scrapping the exam would be unfair to the majority of candidates who had no involvement in the alleged leak. The court’s decision on the matter is eagerly awaited, with many hoping for a solution that balances the need for fairness with the need to prevent future incidents of cheating.