SC issues notice on pleas to cancel NEET-UG 2024.
A petition by 20 students who appeared in the medical entrance exam seeks the Supreme Court’s direction to the NTA and others to cancel NEET-UG 2024 and conduct the test afresh. The plea highlights various alleged irregularities during the exam.
A vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti also requested responses regarding separate pleas filed by the NTA seeking to transfer some pending petitions from the high courts to the apex court.
The bench has scheduled these pleas for a hearing on July 8.
One of the petitions, filed by 20 students who appeared in the medical entrance exam, seeks a direction to the NTA and others to conduct the test afresh. The students highlighted various alleged irregularities during the exam in their plea.
The NEET-UG is a critical examination for students aspiring to enter the medical field, conducted annually by the NTA.
These pleas seek to transfer some pending petitions related to the exam from various high courts to the apex court to streamline the judicial process and ensure a uniform decision. The bench has scheduled these matters for a hearing on July 8.
One of the petitions, filed by 20 students who appeared for the NEET-UG 2024 exam, seeks a directive for the NTA and others to conduct the test afresh. The students’ petition highlights various alleged irregularities and issues faced during the examination, prompting their call for a retest. These allegations include administrative lapses and procedural errors that they believe compromised the exam’s integrity.
In an earlier hearing on June 18, the Supreme Court underscored the importance of absolute integrity in the conduct of the NEET-UG examination. The apex court stated that even “0.001 per cent negligence” in the examination process should be thoroughly investigated and addressed. This strong stance reflects the critical nature of the exam, which is a gateway for thousands of students seeking admission to medical colleges across India.
The NEET-UG, conducted by the NTA, is the all-India pre-medical entrance test. It is a highly competitive exam that determines the eligibility and ranking of students for admission to undergraduate medical courses in various medical institutions nationwide. Given the high stakes involved, any irregularities in the conduct of the exam can significantly impact the future of many aspiring medical students.
The Supreme Court’s decision to seek responses from the Centre, the NTA, and other parties involved indicates the seriousness with which it views the allegations of irregularities. The court’s insistence on addressing even the smallest negligence in the examination process aims to uphold the standards and fairness of the NEET-UG.
As the hearing is set for July 8, all eyes will be on the responses from the Centre and the NTA, as well as the subsequent decisions by the Supreme Court. The outcome of these proceedings could have far-reaching implications for the conduct of NEET-UG 2024 and the future of the students who appeared for the exam.