The Supreme Court of India is set to review its earlier decision regarding the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Undergraduate (NEET-UG) Medical Admissions 2024. The hearing for the review petition is confirmed for October 22, after initial speculation about an October 21 hearing. Filed on August 31, 2024, under Article 137 of the Indian Constitution, the petition seeks to overturn the Court’s previous ruling which found no merit in the claims of irregularities during the NEET-UG examination.
The petitioners have argued that the allotted additional time before the hearing will enable them to gather substantial evidence to strengthen their appeal. They aim to introduce new facts or persuasive arguments that could potentially influence the Court to reassess its earlier decision. This decision, delivered by a bench that included Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, affirmed that the examination process was conducted properly, without any significant flaws that would necessitate a re-examination.
In light of the petition, the Supreme Court had also acknowledged broader concerns regarding the administrative operations of the National Testing Agency (NTA), the body responsible for overseeing NEET-UG. The Court has instructed the Government of India to establish a committee to scrutinize and enhance the transparency and effectiveness of the NTA. The review committee, led by Dr. K Radhakrishnan, a prominent figure in Indian academia and former ISRO chairman, is expected to propose necessary reforms.
