'Retest our last option, panel must probe paper leak': Supreme Court on NEET
- In Reports
- 08:28 PM, Jul 08, 2024
- Myind Staff
On July 8th, the Supreme Court cautioned against hastily considering requests for a re-examination of the NEET-UG exam held on May 5. The release of exam results last month has been marred by issues such as leaked questions and the granting of 'grace marks' to 1,563 students. The court indicated that if the time between the question leak and the exam was short, it might argue against a re-test, suggesting that the leak might not have had a widespread impact if students were only informed on the morning of the exam. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, leading a three-judge bench, expressed reluctance to mandate a re-test for nearly 24 lakh students, many of whom are economically disadvantaged and would face challenges in traveling to exam centres. The court emphasised that a re-test should be considered as a last resort.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud emphasised the undeniable fact that questions were leaked, leading to a compromise in the integrity of the exam. He stressed the importance of determining the full extent of the leak before making any decisions. The Chief Justice highlighted the gravity of the situation, emphasising that any decision regarding a re-test must be approached cautiously due to the impact on the futures of hundreds of thousands of students.
He further clarified the court's stance, stating that a re-test could only be considered if there was a significant period of time between the question leak and the exam, though he did not specify the exact duration required. Additionally, if it was impossible to identify the specific candidates responsible for misconduct, the court affirmed that a re-test would be necessary. The Chief Justice underscored that cancellation of the exam should not be the immediate recourse solely based on the actions of a few students, emphasizing the need for careful deliberation in determining the appropriate course of action.
Regarding the timing issue, the Supreme Court also inquired about the printing process involved in the NEET-UG exam. In a light-hearted comment, the court humorously reminded the National Testing Agency (NTA) not to disclose sensitive details, a reminder prompted by a notice served to the NTA two weeks earlier.
Rather than immediately ordering a re-test, the court recommended the formation of a multi-disciplinary panel to investigate the matter. This issue is already under scrutiny by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and local police forces, spanning multiple states. The CBI's investigation has included questioning individuals and making several arrests related to the case. The next hearing regarding this matter is scheduled for July 11th.
In the midst of proceedings, the court criticised the government for what it termed as a state of "denial" regarding the issue at hand. It urged the government to adopt a "ruthless" approach in dealing with both the candidates who paid for the leaked exam papers and those who facilitated the leak itself. The bench, which includes Justice JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra alongside Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, emphasised the importance of facing the reality of what had occurred, stating, "Let us not be in self-denial about what happened."
Furthermore, the court questioned the government about its plans to identify and take action against those who benefited from the leaked exam materials if the decision was made not to cancel the exam entirely. It stressed the need for the government to act decisively to restore confidence in the examination process.
Last week, the government stated its firm stance against canceling the May 5 NEET-UG exam or conducting a re-test, asserting that there were no widespread irregularities in its administration. In an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, which is scheduled to hear petitions on the matter on Monday, the Centre emphasised that nullifying the 2024 exam entirely would severely impact the futures of countless honest candidates who participated in it.
Earlier today, the court was informed that question papers had been accessible on social media platforms, including popular messaging apps like Telegram, at least 24 hours before the exam commenced. Acknowledging this revelation, the court expressed concern that such leaks could have rapidly propagated if not addressed promptly.
The controversy surrounding the NEET-UG exam erupted last month following the declaration of results.
Image Source: Vartha Bharati
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