SC dismisses Opposition-ruled states' plea, JEE, NEET to go ahead

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a review petition filed against its order allowing the centre to hold the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) in September.

There is no merit in the petition, Justices Ashok Bhushan, BR Gavai and Krishna Murari said after considering it in their chambers. "No case is made out for reconsidering our earlier decision," said the top court, according to NDTV.

West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Punjab and Rajasthan--all opposition-ruled states—had appealed before the court on August 28 seeking a postponement of the examinations in view of the coronavirus crisis.

A crucial year of students “cannot be wasted” and “life has to go on”, Supreme Court had said in its earlier order dismissing students’ petition to postpone the exams.

JEE began on September 1 and will continue till September 6 and the NEET exam is to be held on September 13. Opposition-ruled states claim that lakhs of students were unable to take the exam because of the coronavirus pandemic.