PIL in Patna HC seeks CBI probe into ‘NEET paper leak case’, cancellation of exam

NEW DELHI: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Patna High Court seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged National Eligibility cum Entrance Test- Undergraduate, or, NEET UG 2024 “paper leak case” and cancellation of the national-level entrance test for admission to UG medical courses.

The PIL was filed by lawyer Sujit Kumar Sinha, a resident of Bihar’s Patna, through advocate Vishal Saurabh on May 13. The PIL will be heard by Patna HC “most probably by next week”, said Saurabh on Saturday, May 18.

The PIL is on the basis of an first information report (FIR) registered at a police station in Patna and newspaper reports regarding alleged NEET UG 2024 paper leak. The Bihar Police have so far arrested 13 people in connection with the alleged question paper leak of the NEET-UG 2024 held on May 5.

According to the PIL copy, even after knowing “NEET UG 2024 paper leak in Patna”, NTA did not cancel the exam and hence petitioner being an advocate and citizen of India is “feeling very unhappy”. The PIL has been filed by the lawyer to “provide justice to those students and guardians who spend money, hard work and dedication for success in NEET-UG 2024”.

While this PIL is yet to be heard in Patna HC, the Supreme Court on Friday declined to stay the NEET UG 2024 results. The apex court was hearing a PIL seeking re-conduct of the NEET UG exam due to alleged malpractices and paper leaks this year.

NEET 2024 Paper Leak: CBI investigation

The petitioner through his PIL has sought Patna HC directions for a CBI investigation based on the FIR registered regarding NEET paper leak at Shastri Nagar police station in Patna. Bihar police filed an FIR after receiving information of a paper leak around three hours before the exam began on May 5.

The paper leak affected the fate of lakhs of candidates, said the petitioner.

“Leak of question paper caused serious unrest among the youth and eroded the confidence of students and their guardians and will waste one year of meritorious students due to fault on the part of official respondents,” reads the PIL.

The respondents include National Medical Commission (NMC) and National Testing Agency (NTA) apart from district authorities of Patna.

Earlier, NTA issued a statement on alleged NEET paper leak saying that social media posts claiming NEET 2024 paper leak are completely baseless and without any ground.

Also read Malpractice in NEET UG 2024 at Gujarat centre; FIR against teacher, 2 others; Rs 7 lakh seized

NEET 2024 cancellation and re-exam

The PIL has also sought cancellation of NEET exam in Bihar due to paper leak as mentioned in an FIR based on which 13 people have been arrested.

The PIL has sought direction from the court to authorities to conduct fresh NEET UG 2024 in Bihar after issuing a date “in the interest and welfare of students at large”.

The demand for re-exam is also made on social media #NEET_Paper_Leak and #NEETReExam trending on X (formerly Twitter).

Also read NEET Cut-Off 2024: MBBS opening, closing ranks in Bihar medical colleges last year

NEET UG 2024 result

The NTA conducted the NEET UG 2024 on May 5 across 571 cities in the country in which over 24 lakh students appeared. The NTA is expected to announce the NEET UG 2024 result on June 14, 2024.

The NEET UG result 2024 link will be activated on the official website, exams.nta.ac.in/NEET. Students will have to use their login credentials such as registration number and date of birth to download the NEET UG result 2024.