NEET 2024 Row: ‘If there is a mistake, say yes’; Supreme Court tells NTA, centre on plea

NEW DELHI: If there is a mistake, admit it, and inform about the action being taken, the Supreme Court observed while hearing the petition on the alleged malpractices and paper leak in NEET UG 2024, as per a Live Law report. The top court has issued notices to the National Testing Agency (NTA) and centre in the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) UG hearing.

A bench of justices Vikram Nath and Sarasa Venkatanarayana Bhatti said, "As an agency which is conducting the examination, you must act fair. If there is a mistake, say yes, this is a mistake, and this is the action we are going to take. At least that inspires confidence in your performance.” The justices said that they expect timely action from the NTA.

The advocate for petitioner requested to see the status of the probe in NEET 2024 issue upon which the apex court asked them to list the matter on July 8. The respondents can file their response in two weeks, it said.

“Even if there is 0.001% negligence on the part of anyone it should be thoroughly dealt with. Imagine a situation where a person has become perilous to the system....children have prepared for the exams ....clearly we react but in vacation we react very slowly,” said Justice Bhatti while hearing the plea.

NEET Controversy

SC has scheduled the hearing of the plea for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation into the ‘irregularities’ in NEET results 2024 for July 8. Besides, the top court will also hear the petition of NTA, seeking the transfer of NEET UG cases, filed in various high courts, to the Supreme Court.

On June 13, the Supreme Court cancelled the NEET 2024 results of 1,563 candidates who were awarded grace marks. NTA told the court that a re-exam will be conducted for such students on June 23 and their NEET UG results will be declared by June 30. Several students and opposition parties demanded a SC-monitored probe into the 'error' in NEET results and a re-exam citing allegations of paper leak, grace marks, unusual number of toppers, and early result date. NTA had rubbished any irregularities in the exam. NEET UG 2024 was conducted on May 5 for MBBS, BDS admissions.