Fresh NEET 2024 on Cards? Candidates Move Supreme Court Seeking Re-Conduct of Exam Amid Paper Leak Allegations

New Delhi: Demanding a fresh NEET-UG 2024 exam, a group of candidates has moved to the Supreme Court raising the issue of paper leak and the sanctity of the test.

NTA has also been made a party in the plea before the Supreme Court. Filed by Shivangi Mishra and others, the pleas raised the issue of paper leak and the sanctity of the test while seeking a direction for conducting fresh examination.

It has been alleged in the plea that the NEET-UG test held on May 5 was riddled with malpractices as various instances of paper leaks came to the knowledge of the petitioners.

The alleged paper leak of NEET was violative of Article 14 (right to equality) under the Constitution as it gave an undue advantage to some candidates over others who chose to attempt the examination in a fair manner. The plea, which was filed on June 1 through lawyer Usha Nandini V, may be listed before a vacation bench this week, reports PTI.

Also Read: NEET-UG 2024 Score Card now LIVE, More than 80 Students Score 720 Marks!

NEET Paper Leak Scam:

NTA released the NEET scorecard yesterday i.e. on June 4, 2024. A record 24.06 lakh candidates had registered for NEET this year. The passing percentage is almost the same as last year at 56.2 percent.

The results of NEET-UG 2024 shocked many as altogether 67 candidates secured the All India Rank 1 in the examination. Moreover, soon after the reports of a large number of students securing full marks i.e. 720 marks in the exam came to light, the allegations of the NEET paper leak scam started circulating on the social media platforms.

Several X (formerly Twitter) users including doctors and health activists also referred to the NEET marking pattern and questioned how some candidates secured 718 or 719 marks in the exam.

According to the NEET marking scheme, every candidate is awarded 4 marks for every right answer and 1 mark is deducted for every wrong answer. Therefore, after the full marks i.e. 720, the candidates can only secure 716 marks if they leave one answer unattempted. Similarly, a candidate would get 715 marks if he/she gives one wrong answer.

Some of the social media users including doctors and activists also questioned how altogether 8 students from the same centre secured 720 marks in the examination.

"NTA received few representations and Court Cases from the candidates of NEET (UG) 2024 raising concerns of loss of time during the conduct of the examination on 05.05.2024. Such cases/representations were considered by NTA and the normalisation formula, which has been devised and adopted by the Hon'ble Apex Court, vide its Judgment dated 13.06.2018, was implemented to address the loss of time faced by the candidates of NEET (UG) 2024," NTA mentioned in its clarification issued yesterday.

"The loss of examination time was ascertained and such candidates were compensated with grace marks. So, candidate's marks can be 718 or 719 also," it further added.

Also Read: NEET 2024 Results: Candidates Awarded Grace Marks for loss of exam time- clarifies NTA amid social media uproar

NEET Aspirants Seek Government Intervention: 

Amid the uproar regarding NEET Exam results, several NEET aspirants wrote to the Government Officials appealing for NEET Exam Integrity. A copy of the letter was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by 'Indian Doctor'.

The letter mentioned, "...the recent incidents of NEET exam paper leaks that have cast a shadow of injustice upon thousands of honest aspirants like myself. As someone who has dedicated over two years of hard work and preparation for this critical examination, I am deeply troubled by the alarming reports of widespread malpractice and corruption surrounding the NEET exams."

"It is disheartening to learn that the sanctity of such a vital national examination is being compromised for monetary gains. Reports of NEET question papers being leaked for exorbitant sums, where individuals obtain access to these papers for as little as Rs. 10 lakhs, are shocking and deeply unsettling. The blatant act of corruption and the selling of exam papers to the highest bidder are not only morally reprehensible but also a severe blow to the aspirations and dreams of countless deserving students," the letter further added.

"Moreover, the recent incidents in Patna, where individuals were caught red-handed with leaked exam materials for a mere Rs. 1 lakh, highlight the gravity of this issue. This blatant disregard for fairness and transparency strikes at the very core of our educational system's integrity," it further mentioned.

Urging the officials to consider the plights of sincere aspirants who have poured their heart and soul into the preparation for the exam, the letter urged the esteemed government authorities to intervene.