In a significant development, the Supreme Court today stayed the proceedings in various petitions filed before the Rajasthan, Calcutta, and Bombay High Courts concerning the alleged paper leak in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET-UG 2024.
The apex court passed this order while issuing notice on the transfer petitions filed by the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the NEET examination.
The NTA has sought the transfer of all petitions related to the NEET paper leak case to the Supreme Court for a consolidated hearing. The agency argued that since the NEET is a national-level examination, it would be appropriate for the Supreme Court to adjudicate upon the matter to avoid any contradictory orders from different High Courts.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti agreed to examine the NTA’s transfer petitions and issued notices to the parties involved in the various High Court petitions.
“Taking into account the nature of the examination and the reliefs sought in the different petitions, we consider it appropriate to stay the proceedings before the High Courts,” the bench observed.
Allegations of Paper Leak Spark Controversy
The NEET-UG 2024 examination was mired in controversy after allegations of paper leaks surfaced from various parts of the country. Several students and parents approached different High Courts, seeking a court-monitored probe into the alleged irregularities and demanding a re-examination.
The High Courts of Rajasthan, Calcutta, and Bombay had initiated separate proceedings in the matter, leading to the NTA’s decision to seek a transfer of all cases to the Supreme Court.
NTA Assures Fair Investigation
In its transfer petition, the NTA has assured the Supreme Court of a fair and impartial investigation into the alleged paper leak. The agency has stated that it is committed to maintaining the integrity of the examination process and will take appropriate action based on the findings of the probe.
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The Supreme Court has directed the parties to file their responses within four weeks, and the matter will be heard after the summer vacation.
The NEET-UG examination is a crucial entrance test for admission to undergraduate medical courses across India, and any irregularities in the process can have far-reaching consequences for aspiring medical students.
