The Supreme Court, on Friday, delivered a detailed judgment explaining its decision not to cancel the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)-UG, despite the controversies surrounding alleged paper leaks and other irregularities. The court emphasized the need for the National Testing Agency (NTA) to address operational inconsistencies and secure the examination process more rigorously.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, leading a three-judge bench, critiqued the NTA’s handling of the exam procedures, particularly its decision-making processes, which he referred to as “flip-flops.” “These flip-flops do not serve the interest of the students,” stated the Chief Justice. He also highlighted concerns over the NTA’s practices, such as allowing candidates to change exam centers last minute and opening registrations through a “rear door,” which could compromise the integrity of the exam.
Further complications arose when the NTA decided to award grace marks to 1,563 students who received the wrong question papers, only to retract this decision later, requiring those affected to sit for a re-examination. These actions, according to the Supreme Court, reflect poorly on the administration of such a critical national examination.
Directions to the Expert Committee
In its verdict, the court laid out specific directives for an expert committee, formed by the government on June 22, tasked with enhancing the robustness of the exam process. The committee is expected to review security mechanisms, ensuring thorough checks are in place to prevent any form of irregularity.
Among other mandates, the committee is to develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) concerning the timeline for registration, changes in exam centers, and the sealing and storage of OMR sheets. A comprehensive report from the committee is due by September 30, 2024, after which the Ministry of Education is to implement the recommended changes within a month and report back to the court two weeks after implementation.
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The First Charge Sheet
In related developments, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed its first charge sheet on August 1, in the ongoing investigation into the alleged NEET exam paper leak. The charge sheet names 13 individuals accused of being involved in the paper leak and other associated irregularities. To date, the CBI has registered six FIRs concerning the case, underlining the gravity of the issue and the need for stringent measures to safeguard the integrity of future examinations.
