1. Supreme Court issues notices to NTA and Central government over NEET-UG 2024 exam irregularities.
2. Emphasizes stringent scrutiny despite minor negligence allegations.
3. Responds to protests from medical aspirants and parents, urging transparency in investigation.
New Delhi, June 18: The Supreme Court has issued notices to the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Central government following allegations of paper leaks and malpractices in the NEET-UG 2024 exam.
Amidst protests from medical aspirants and their parents, the apex court emphasized the need for thorough scrutiny even in cases of minor negligence.
NEET serves as India’s primary entrance exam for medical and related fields, conducted annually by the NTA.
The court directed notices to the NTA and Centre, stressing that even 0.001% negligence should be addressed comprehensively.
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“Any negligence, no matter how small, must be addressed thoroughly,” the Supreme Court asserted.
Acknowledging the efforts of aspirants in preparing for one of the nation’s toughest exams, the court remarked, “We cannot overlook the hard work put in by students.”
Justice Vikram Nath urged the NTA to take prompt action as expected by the Supreme Court.
The court scheduled further hearings on the petitions for July 8.
NEET-UG 2024 was conducted on May 5 across 4,750 centers in 571 cities, with results announced on June 4.
Controversy arose post-results over the awarding of grace marks to 1,563 students, prompting the NTA to cancel the exam for these candidates.
These students are slated to retake the exam on June 23, with results expected before June 30.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan assured strict action against NTA officials implicated in any irregularities.
Responding to petitions seeking cancellation of the 2024 exam and a CBI or independent agency probe, the Supreme Court is expected to oversee investigations into alleged irregularities, including claims of unusual score distributions.
“The anomalies need thorough investigation by the CBI or an independent agency under court supervision,” the plea stated.
