The Supreme Court has postponed its hearing on conflicting petitions regarding a retest for NEET-UG following alleged irregularities in the exam. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan met with students from both sides of the issue, listening to their concerns. Sources indicate that during the 30-minute meeting, Pradhan assured students that the government would ensure no injustice occurs and that steps are being taken to prevent future exam irregularities.
Some students argued that asking for a retest would unfairly penalise those who did not cheat, while others insisted that the irregularities were severe enough to necessitate one.
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Nearly 24 lakh students took the NEET-UG 2024 exam for undergraduate medical courses, conducted by the National Testing Agency on May 5. Results were announced on June 4, ahead of schedule, but allegations of question paper leaks and grace marks awarded to over 1,500 students sparked protests and court cases.
Dharmendra Pradhan informed students that the matter is now in the hands of the Supreme Court, and the government will act based on the court’s decision. The Education Ministry has presented its case, and it is now up to the judges to decide.
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In an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, the Centre stated that a comprehensive analysis revealed no large-scale malpractice or evidence of localized benefits. The Union government reiterated its stance against holding a retest, arguing that it would burden nearly 24 lakh students based on “unsubstantiated suspicions.”
The Centre plans to start the counselling process for NEET-UG from the third week of July in four phases, with the provision to cancel counselling for any candidate found to have benefited from irregularities.
Data analysis by experts from IIT Madras showed an overall increase in marks, particularly in the range of 550 to 720, across various cities and centres. The Centre attributed this increase to a 25% reduction in the syllabus.
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During a hearing on Monday, a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud expressed reluctance to order a retest for nearly 24 lakh students, many from poor families who cannot afford travel expenses, unless absolutely necessary. The Chief Justice acknowledged that the exam’s sanctity had been compromised due to leaked questions and emphasized the need to determine the extent of the leak.
Another hearing was initially scheduled for Thursday but has been deferred to July 18.
