'Sanctity of NEET Affected!': Supreme Court seeks response from NTA, Refuses to halt NEET 2024 Counselling
The bench refused to stay NEET 2024 counselling. Matter is listed for July 8th 2024.
New Delhi: Deliberating upon the plea alleging paper leak and thus seeking NEET 2024 re-exam, the Supreme Court of India has today issued a notice to the National Testing Agency (NTA). Seeking the agency's response in the matter, the bench strongly observed, "Sanctity has been affected, so we need answers." While the apex court has listed the matter for July 8th, 2024 for further hearing, it has refused to halt the NEET 2024 counselling process.
A vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah was moved by the petition filed by Shivangi Mishra and nine others on June 1.
During the hearing today, the counsel for the NTA submitted that the petition be tagged along with an earlier petition on which notice was issued by a bench led by the Chief Justice of India on May 17. That petition is listed on July 8, he informed. The bench then posted the present petition along with the earlier petition which is listed on July 8.
The plea alleged that NEET-UG, 2024, was riddled with "malpractices" as various instances of paper leaks have come to the knowledge of the petitioners.
The alleged paper leak 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, it said, reports TOI.
Noting the plea, Justice Amanullah told the counsel representing the National Testing Agency, "It is not that simple that because you have done it is sacrosanct. Sanctity has been affected, so we need answers." "How much time you want? Immediately on the re-opening? Otherwise, the counselling will start." Justice Amanullah told the NTA's counsel.
Advocate Mathews J Nedumpara, appearing for the petitioners, sought a stay on the NEET counselling. However, the bench refused to do so. "Let the counselling start, we are not stopping the counselling," Justice Nath said, as quoted by LiveLaw.
"Issue notice. In the meantime, the response will be filed by the National Testing Agency," the bench observed in the order.
As for the various other pleas filed, challenging the grace marks and the OMR Sheet concerns, the Supreme Court has asked the counsel to route the petitions through the Chief Justice and present the case at the SC registry, reports Times Now.
Representing the students seeking the apex court's intervention in the grace marks matter, Advocate J Sai Deepak urged the vacation bench to take into accord the fresh petitions filed against NTA to be clubbed. Speaking on the urgency of the matter, the Counsel said that the counselling for MBBS, and BDS seats will begin soon in the country. It is hence important for the apex court to intervene and hear all the petitions at the earliest. The bench, however, has directed the counsel to approach the court via registry. For the uninformed, the Supreme Court is on summer vacation till July 8. As a result, the registry is closed and only the vacation bench is working at the moment to hear special cases and pleas. If the matter is deferred, the same will then be listed after July 8. Bench of Hon'ble Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah have asked this to be routed through Chief Justice, adds Times Now report.
Matter pending before Supreme Court:
Multiple petitions have been filed with the Supreme Court alleging irregularities in NEET 2024 conduct this year including the 'arbitrary' awarding of grace marks. While today, the apex court was hearing a batch of petitions seeking cancellation of the NEET 2024 over an alleged paper leak and other irregularities this year, similar petitions are also pending in different High Courts including Delhi and Calcutta High Court.
One of the petitions before the Apex Court has specifically referred to the allegations that the paper was leaked in Patna and wrong question papers were given to candidates in Rajasthan. On May 17, while considering another petition seeking similar reliefs, the Supreme Court had refused to stay the declaration of the results of the NEET-UG exam. Though the bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud issued notice on that petition and posted the matter in July, the bench stated that the results of the exams held on a pan-India basis cannot be stayed.
NEET UG 2024 Results and Alleged Irregularities:
This year's NEET results were a huge shocker since as many as 67 candidates got the All India Rank 1 in the MBBS entrance exam. 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 social media platforms.
Several X (formerly Twitter) users including doctors and health activists also referred to the NEET marking pattern questioning how some candidates secured 718 or 719 marks in the exam, which seems impossible considering the NEET marking scheme. 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.
Concerns were also raised regarding multiple students securing the AIR 1 rank from the same centre. When NTA tried to justify NEET 2024 conduct stating that several candidates were awarded grace marks to compensate for loss of time, further questions were raised.
Backlash from Candidates:
Meanwhile, candidates from different states have been protesting, from the streets as well as on social media, against the alleged irregularities in NEET and demanding action from the authorities.
Govt Constitutes Panel:
Amid this uproar, NTA informed during a recent Press Conference that the Education Ministry has formed a panel to reassess the results of more than 1,600 students who received grace marks in the NEET UG 2024 exams.
A former UPSC Chairperson will chair this four-member panel and this committee will examine the potential discrepancies in the undergraduate medical entrance examination.
Also Read: NTA justifies NEET 2024 conduct: Here are 5 takeaways from Press Conference
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