NEET-UG exam controversy: Retest if leak widespread, says Supreme Court

Make full paper leak disclosure by July 11, apex court directs National Testing Agency

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to make a full disclosure before it by July 11 on the nature of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) paper leak, the places where the leak took place and the lag of time between the occurrence of the leak and the conduct of the exam.

In its short order dictated after the hearing, the apex court added that it will have to scrutinise whether the alleged breach has taken place at a systemic level, whether the breach has affected the integrity of the entire examination process, and if it is possible to segregate the beneficiaries of fraud from the untainted students.

The court opined that a retest will have to be ordered if the sanctity of the NEET-UG, 2024 exam is lost and the leak has been propagated through social media.

Stating that the fact of the paper leak in the NEET-UG exam cannot be denied, the court said it has to be ascertained if the nature of the leak was widespread or isolated to decide on ordering a retest.

“Before we decide to order a retest, we must understand what is the nature of leak. Asking 23 lakh students to appear for a retest is tough. First we would like to know the entire process. Second, the nature of FIRs. Third, the point of time when the leak took place and how the leak disseminated,” Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said.

The court ordered both the central government and the NTA to respond to specific queries raised in its order and posted the matters for further hearing on July 11.

The queries include when the leak had first taken place, the manner in which the leaked question papers were disseminated and the time duration between occurrence of the leak and the exam on May 5, 2024.

The apex court’s directions come amid the controversy surrounding the pan-India medical entrance examination following allegations of malpractices, mass question paper leaks, and cheating.

The apex court also asked the government to set up a multi-disciplinary team of experts to ensure that due measures are taken to obviate any further breach in NEET-UG exam.

The top court also asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit a status report on the probe into the paper leak cases.

The Supreme Court is also hearing a separate plea of over 50 successful Gujarat-based NEET-UG candidates, seeking a direction to restrain the Centre and the NTA from cancelling the controversy-ridden exam.

What Court Said

- NTA to make a disclosure on the nature of the leak, places where it took place and time lag between occurrence of leak and conduct of the exam

- Govt to set up a multi-disciplinary team of experts to ensure that due measures are taken to obviate any further breach in future exams 

- CBI to submit a status report on the investigation into the paper leak cases

- Central govt and NTA to submit responses to queries related to the manner of leak before next hearing scheduled for July 11