Home > Recent Judgements > Upholding Exam Integrity: Neet-Ug 2024 Controversy
July 29, 2024
UPHOLDING EXAM INTEGRITY: NEET-UG 2024 CONTROVERSY
The Supreme Court on 23.07.2024, delivered a significant verdict concerning the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test – Undergraduate (“NEET-UG”) 2024. The bench of three judges decided against cancellation and rescheduling of the NEET-UG exam.
BACKGROUND AND ALLEGATIONS
The NEET-UG is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country. It is a crucial examination for students aspiring to enter medical and dental courses across India. The exam was taken by 23.33 lakh students at 4,750 centres in 571 cities on May 5. However, concerns arose when allegations surfaced regarding the leakage of the question paper, particularly in locations such as Hazaribagh and Patna. This prompted calls for a retest, with petitioners alleging systematic flaws in the way the exam was administered.
GROUNDS FOR PETITION
The following were the main grounds for petitions-
- Alleged leakage of the question paper, which the petitioners argued compromised the exam’s integrity.
- Systemic failures in the examination’s administration, including inadequate surveillance and lack of standard operating procedures (SOPs).
OBSERVATION OF THE COURT
The Hon’ble Supreme Court found that the assertion of a systemic breakdown in the examination process was not supported by the evidence. The court emphasized that the data on record did not indicate a widespread leak that would warrant the cancellation of the entire examination.
The court further stated that although the Hazaribagh and Patna leaks were acknowledged, they weren’t enough to support a nationwide retest. Furthermore, involved in the inquiry, the Central Bureau of Inquiry (CBI) submitted status reports that attested to the limited scope of the breach. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi also carried out a thorough review, which included a controversial Physics question and came to the conclusion that the leaks had no overall effect on the integrity of the test.
DECISION OF THE COURT
The Supreme Court of India decided not to order a re-conduct of the NEET-UG 2024 examination. The court found that there was no sufficient evidence to prove a systemic breach or widespread leak of the question paper that would justify canceling the entire exam. While acknowledging incidents of leakage at specific locations, the court concluded that these were not significant enough to affect the overall integrity of the exam. Therefore, the existing results were upheld, and the counseling process for admissions was allowed to proceed as planned.
IMPLICATION OF THE DECISION
- Over 24 lakh students who took the exam will not experience any inconvenience as a result of the decision. Students’ schedules and plans may have been impacted by the exam’s cancellation and rescheduling, which could have prolonged the admissions process overall.
- A retest would have had cascading effects on medical education, potentially delaying the availability of qualified medical professionals. This is a critical consideration given the ongoing demand for healthcare professionals in India.
- The court also took into account how reservations in seat allocation might affect marginalized groups, for whom reservations are especially important. These students may have been disproportionately impacted if there had been a breakdown in the admission process.
REACTION AND PROTESTS
Despite the court’s ruling, there has been a notable public outcry, with activists and some student groups demanding a retest. On July 22, 2024, protests were staged in New Delhi, with demonstrators calling for the re-conduct of the NEET exam. The protesters cited concerns over fairness and the alleged partial conduct of the exam, arguing that a retest would ensure that all candidates are assessed on an equal footing.
Although the petitioners’ concerns were taken seriously, the Supreme Court determined that the NEET-UG 2024 examination’s systemic integrity remained intact. The decision not to conduct a retest reflects a careful balance between upholding the sanctity of the examination process and taking the larger implications for students and the healthcare sector into consideration. The court’s ruling emphasizes the importance of basing decisions on concrete evidence rather than allegations. The NEET-UG remains a critical pathway for aspiring medical and dental students, and maintaining its integrity is paramount for the credibility of India’s medical education system. The court’s ruling serves as a reminder of the importance of evidence-based decision-making in the administration of national examinations.
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