The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday dismissed pleas calling for the cancellation of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Under Graduate (NEET-UG) 2024, held on May 5. The court ruled that there was no systemic breach in the exam that would warrant a re-examination.
A three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and including Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, stated that there was insufficient evidence to conclude that the exam results were compromised or that a widespread breach had occurred.
While acknowledging confirmed instances of paper leaks in Hazaribagh and Patna, the court noted that these isolated incidents did not indicate a systemic failure that would undermine the overall integrity of the exam. The bench cited a government report revealing an ongoing probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into 155 students from these exam centers who may have benefited from the fraud.
The court emphasized that ordering a fresh exam for over 23 lakh students would have serious consequences, potentially disrupting the academic schedule and causing a cascading effect in coming years. Chief Justice Chandrachud stressed the need for certainty and finality in resolving the dispute, given its impact on more than 2 million students’ careers.
The verdict came in response to multiple petitions seeking the recall of NEET-UG 2024 results and a fresh examination, citing allegations of paper leakage and malpractices. Aspirants had raised concerns about question paper leaks, the awarding of compensatory marks, and other anomalies in the test.
NEET-UG, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), serves as the primary pathway for admissions into MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and related courses in government and private institutions across India. The 2024 exam was held at 4,750 centers nationwide, with approximately 24 lakh candidates participating.
(Inputs from ANI)