The Supreme Court declined to cancel the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Under Graduate (NEET-UG) 2024, which took place on May 5, stating that there was no systemic breach in the examination process. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra noted that there was insufficient evidence to suggest that the exam results were compromised or that there was a systematic breach. The court emphasized that the available data did not point to a systemic leak of the NEET-UG question paper, which would undermine the integrity of the exam.
However, the court acknowledged that there were leaks in Hazaribagh and Patna, a fact that was not contested. The apex court also mentioned that the government's report indicated an ongoing investigation, with the central agency identifying 155 students from the Hazaribagh and Patna exam centers as potential beneficiaries of the fraud. The investigation by the CBI has not yet concluded.
The bench further stated that ordering a fresh NEET-UG exam for the current year would have severe repercussions for the over 23 lakh students who participated in the exam. Re-examining would disrupt the academic schedule and have long-term effects. The court emphasized the need to bring certainty and finality to the dispute, which has impacted the careers of over 2 million students.
The Supreme Court's decision was in response to a series of pleas requesting the recall of the NEET-UG 2024 results and the conduct of a fresh examination, citing paper leakage and malpractices. Aspirants had approached the top court, raising concerns about the leakage of the question paper, compensatory marks, and anomalies in the NEET-UG. The NEET-UG examination, administered by NTA, is the gateway to admissions for MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other related courses in government and private institutions nationwide. The NEET-UG 2024 was conducted at 4,750 centers on May 5, with approximately 24 lakh candidates participating.
