In a pivotal ruling, the Supreme Court on Monday, November 4, dismissed the review petition calling for a retest of the NEET-UG 2024, citing insufficient grounds to overturn the original verdict. The petition, spearheaded by Kajal Kumari against the Union of India, challenged the integrity of this year’s National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Undergraduate (NEET-UG) administration, which was presided over by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, alongside Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.
The petitioners argued that crucial evidence, including a report by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), had been inadequately considered during the initial proceedings. However, the Supreme Court, adhering to strict review guidelines that necessitate new evidence or a clear oversight at the original hearing, found no substantial anomalies to warrant a retest of the examination held on May 5.
Despite denying the retest, the Supreme Court recognized systemic issues within the National Testing Agency (NTA), the body responsible for conducting NEET-UG. Acknowledging calls for operational enhancements, the Court has directed the establishment of a committee to undertake comprehensive reforms of the NTA to ensure the credibility and fairness of future examinations.
