NEET UG 2024: 'Let us not be in self-denial', SC on paper leak; posts matter for hearing on Thursday

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has posted the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2024 matter for hearing on Thursday, as per Live Law. The top court bench comprising the chief justice of India D Y Chandrachud and two others justices was hearing a batch of petitions on re-NEET, alleged paper leak and irregularities in exam, and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.

"We will give you a day's time. We want all petitioners' lawyers, asking for a re-test, to give us one set of submissions on Wednesday. We want you all to sit down and give us one consolidated set of submissions not exceeding 10 pages," the CJI reportedly told the counsel during hearing of NEET case.

While hearing the petitions, the top court made observations on the NEET paper leak reports and the drastic increase in the number of NEET toppers 2024. The CJI asked questions about the medium and timings of distribution of question papers citing that they will play a role in deciding whether the leak happened. "One thing is clear - leak has taken place. Question is, how widespread is the reach?," the chief justice remarked while hearing the pleas.

During the hearing, the central government admitted that there was one instance of paper leak and informed the top court that the persons involved have been arrested while results of those who benefitted from the malpractice have been withheld.

NTA and BJP government have been at the center of target by agitated students and opposition parties as NEET UG 2024, held on May 5, was marred by controversy over allegations of paper leak, alleged irregularities, grace marks, unusual number of toppers, and other issues. Aspirants and opposition leaders held several protests and demanded scrapping of NTA and resignation of union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

NEET UG 2024: Latest developments

• The ministry of health recently clarified that the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has not yet notified the schedule for NEET counselling 2024. The committee will announce the dates likely by July-end on the basis of exam completion and finalisation of the seat matrix by the National Medical Commission (NMC).
• Opposition leaders are demanding re NEET for all candidates and an SC-monitored probe into the alleged paper leaks.
• Responding to the demands of scrapping NEET, the centre recently told the top court that it would not be a rational step and jeopardize lakhs of aspirants who took exam without using unfair means.
• The union government is reportedly considering holding NEET in online mode from the next academic year.
• Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting a debate in Parliament on the NEET issue.
• The education ministry handed over the NEET matter to CBI for an investigation into the alleged paper leak and irregularities. The probing agency has made a few arrests in Gujarat and Bihar so far.

NTA announced NEET UG 2024 re-exam results on July 1 and the number of toppers dropped to 61. 750 students who skipped the exam will have to accept their scores before addition of grace marks, as per NTA’s decision. 813 candidates out of 1,563 appeared for the re-exam held on June 23.

The Supreme Court on June 13 cancelled the NEET results 2024 of 1,563 candidates who were awarded compensatory marks for the loss of time and asked the NTA to withdraw their results. The testing agency informed the court about a re-exam on June 23 based on the recommendations of a high-powered committee. Both NTA and centre denied any irregularities in the exam then.

67 candidates secured the All India Rank (AIR) 1 in NEET exam this year whose results were announced on June 4, 10 days before the actual announcement date.