NEET UG 2024 Hearing Live Updates: Supreme Court Proceedings on July 23

On July 23, the Supreme Court of India resumed hearing a series of pleas related to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG) 2024. The exam, which was held on May 5, has been the subject of controversy and legal scrutiny, with several issues raised regarding its conduct and results. The bench for this critical hearing comprises Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

Overview of the Supreme Court Hearing

Key Issues Under Review:

1. Cancellation and Re-Test Demand: Petitioners are seeking the cancellation of the NEET UG 2024 exam and a re-test due to alleged irregularities.
2. Court-Monitored Probe: There is a demand for a court-monitored investigation into the alleged discrepancies in the exam process.
3. Controversy Over Answer Key: Disputes have arisen regarding the correctness of the answers provided in the exam’s answer key.

IIT Delhi Report and Its Implications

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud’s Statement: During the hearing, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud informed the court about the IIT Delhi report led by Director Prof. Banerjee. According to the report, option 4 was confirmed as the correct answer for a particular multiple-choice question in NEET UG 2024. The report indicates that the previous answer key provided by the National Testing Agency (NTA) was accurate in this case.

Details from the Report:

• Correct Answer: The IIT Delhi expert team concluded that option 4 was indeed the correct answer.
• Statement 2 Analysis: The report also addressed Statement 2, noting that atoms of radioactive material are not stable, which corroborates the correctness of option 4 as per the NTA’s key.

July 22 Developments

Expert Committee Formation: On July 22, the Supreme Court directed the Director of IIT Delhi to form a three-member expert committee to assess the validity of the disputed answer in the NEET UG 2024 exam. This decision reflects the court’s commitment to a thorough and independent review of the exam’s integrity.

FEDCUTA’s Demand: The Federation of Central Universities Teachers’ Association (FEDCUTA) has called for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the alleged irregularities in the NEET UG 2024 exam. They have also advocated for the immediate dissolution of the NTA, citing concerns over the exam’s administration and transparency.

NTA’s Response and Additional Affidavit

Conflict of Interest Refutation: In its affidavit, the NTA has rebutted claims of a conflict of interest involving the Director of IIT Madras, who prepared the data analytics report. The NTA asserts that the report’s findings are impartial and based on accurate data.

Intervention Application: Petitioners in the paper leak case have filed an Intervention Application (IA) requesting a re-test for approximately 3.5 lakh top scorers. These petitioners, who have scored between 650 and 680 out of 720 marks, argue that the integrity of the exam was compromised.

Key Hearing Points on July 18

Paper Leak Allegations: On July 18, the Supreme Court highlighted concerns over the NTA’s hypothesis that the exam paper was leaked, solved, and memorized within just 45 minutes. This raises questions about the security and management of the exam process.

Syllabus Changes and Transportation Issues: The court was also informed of allegations regarding increased syllabus content and inadequate notification periods. Additionally, there were concerns about the compromised transportation of question papers in Hazaribag.

Systemic Impact of the Paper Leak: Chief Justice DY Chandrachud emphasized the need for petitioners to demonstrate that the paper leak was systemic and affected the entire examination. The re-examination request must be based on concrete evidence that the integrity of the exam was fundamentally compromised.

Government’s Version and Affidavit

No Evidence of Widespread Cheating: In its affidavit, the Union government reported that no evidence of widespread cheating or unfair scoring practices was found. The Ministry of Education had requested IIT Madras to perform a comprehensive data analysis of the NEET UG 2024 results to support this claim.

Exam Statistics: NEET UG 2024 saw participation from 23.33 lakh students across 4,750 centers in 571 cities, including 14 international locations. The NTA, responsible for conducting the exam, is tasked with ensuring fairness and accuracy in the testing process. (MBBS EXPERT)

Conclusion

The Supreme Court’s ongoing hearings on the NEET UG 2024 exam reflect a complex legal and procedural situation involving numerous stakeholders. The findings from the IIT Delhi report, the calls for a JPC probe, and the NTA’s responses all contribute to a broader discussion about the integrity and administration of national entrance examinations.

The court’s decisions in the coming days will likely have significant implications for the future conduct of NEET UG and similar exams, impacting students, educational institutions, and regulatory bodies.

For updates on this case and further information, interested parties can follow legal news sources and consult with experts in the field. The resolution of these issues will be crucial for restoring confidence in the examination process and ensuring fair opportunities for all students.