NEET UG 2024: Supreme Court Seeks NTA Response on Alleged Paper Leak, Allows Counselling to Proceed

In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India has issued a notice to the National Testing Agency (NTA) regarding the recently conducted National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduates ( NEET-UG ) 2024 exam. This comes amidst allegations of a question paper leak and other irregularities during the exam.

The vacation bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah expressed concerns about the "sanctity" of the exam being compromised due to the alleged leak. The court emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, "Just because the exam has been conducted doesn't mean it's beyond scrutiny. The leak allegations raise questions, and we need answers from the NTA."

Advocate Mathews J Nedumpara, representing the petitioners who challenged the exam's validity, urged the court to put a hold on the counselling process for admissions to medical colleges based on NEET-UG scores. However, the Supreme Court declined this request and scheduled the next hearing for July 8th.

"Counselling can proceed as planned," the bench clarified. "We are not stopping it at this stage."

The petitions filed before the Supreme Court call for the cancellation of NEET-UG 2024 results and a complete re-examination. The petitioners claim that the alleged paper leak and other irregularities, including the way compensatory marks were awarded to students who faced disruptions during the exam, have compromised the fairness of the process.

It's important to note that the NTA has firmly denied any irregularities in the exam's conduct. NEET-UG , conducted by the NTA, is a crucial gateway exam for students seeking admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other medical programs in government and private colleges across India.

The court has combined the plea filed by Shivangi Mishra and others with an existing case related to the exam. The NTA is required to submit a formal response before the next hearing.

The petitioners argue that the alleged paper leak violated the fundamental right to equality enshrined in Article 14 of the Indian Constitution. They believe that some students who may have gained access to leaked questions had an unfair advantage over those who prepared diligently for the exam without such knowledge.

The upcoming hearing in July will determine the court's final decision regarding the validity of NEET-UG 2024 and the fate of the counselling process.