In the face of ongoing controversy, over 50 NEET-UG aspirants from Gujarat, including top-ranked candidates, have approached the Supreme Court. They are seeking an injunction against any potential cancellation of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) by the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA). The test, which was conducted on May 5 this year, has been marred by allegations of malpractices such as paper leaks and impersonation.
The petitioners have called upon the Supreme Court to direct the Union Education Ministry to thoroughly investigate the incidents and to take stringent measures against those involved in compromising the exam’s integrity. This plea was filed shortly before a Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, is scheduled to review 26 other petitions related to the NEET-UG. These include demands for a re-test and an extensive investigation into the reported irregularities.
NEET-UG 2024, a pivotal exam for students aiming for admissions into MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other medical courses, witnessed participation from approximately 24 lakh candidates across 4,750 centres nationwide. The emerging reports of irregularities have ignited protests in several cities and have become a point of contention among political groups.
The upcoming hearing on July 8 will also address the numerous pleas that advocate for the cancellation of the examination, a subsequent re-test, and a thorough investigation.
Also Read
Represented by lawyer Devendra Singh, the petition filed by Sidhharth Komal Singla and 55 others emphasizes that reconducting the examination would not only be “unreasonable and harsh” for the diligent students but would also infringe upon their Right to Education, as protected under Article 14 (right to equality) of the Constitution. The petitioners urge the court to mandate the Centre and NTA to pinpoint and penalize those candidates who resorted to unfair practices and to scrutinize the examination centres where the guidelines were possibly breached.
