“Candidates Petition Supreme Court for Re-Conduct of NEET Exam Amid Paper Leak Allegations”

In a move that underscores the ongoing controversy surrounding the NEET-UG 2024 exam, a group of candidates has approached the Supreme Court, seeking a re-conduct of the test following allegations of a paper leak. The petitioners, led by Shivangi Mishra, have included the National Testing Agency (NTA) as a party in their plea, challenging the integrity of the examination held on May 5.

The candidates allege that the NEET-UG exam was marred by significant malpractices, with instances of the question paper being leaked, which they claim violates Article 14 (right to equality) of the Indian Constitution. The petition argues that the leak provided an unfair advantage to some candidates over others who attempted the exam honestly.

The plea, filed on June 1 through lawyer Usha Nandini V, is expected to be listed before a vacation bench of the Supreme Court this week, as reported by PTI.

NEET Paper Leak Scam:

The NEET-UG 2024 exam faced major scrutiny after a paper leak scam was uncovered in Bihar. Thirteen individuals, including four examinees and their family members, were arrested for their involvement in the leak. The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police revealed that brokers charged between ₹30 lakh to ₹50 lakh from each aspirant in exchange for the leaked question papers.

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) had also been filed, requesting a stay on the exam results. Although the Supreme Court did not stay the results, it agreed to consider the plea for a fresh examination due to the alleged malpractices.

NEET Scorecard Raises Concerns:

The NTA released the NEET scorecards on June 4, 2024, with 24.06 lakh candidates having registered for the exam. The results revealed an unprecedented number of high scores, including 67 candidates securing All India Rank 1 and numerous candidates scoring full marks, which fueled suspicions of a paper leak.

Critics on social media, including doctors and health activists, questioned the feasibility of the marks distribution under NEET’s marking scheme. Some pointed out anomalies, such as eight students from the same center achieving perfect scores.

In response, the NTA issued a clarification, stating that grace marks were awarded to address concerns over lost examination time, as decided by the Supreme Court’s normalization formula from a 2018 judgment.

Calls for Government Intervention:

Amid the controversy, several NEET aspirants have appealed to government officials for intervention, emphasizing the need to maintain the integrity of the examination. A widely circulated letter on social media highlighted the disheartening impact of the alleged malpractice on sincere candidates and urged for the re-conduction of the exam under stricter security measures.

Conclusion:

The NEET-UG exam is crucial for admission to various medical and healthcare courses in India. As the Supreme Court considers the pleas, the outcome will be pivotal for ensuring fairness and transparency in one of the country’s most significant entrance exams.

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