The Supreme Court has ruled against a NEET UG 2024 retest,Check details here
Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud of the Supreme Court (SC) of India has ruled out the possibility of a retest for NEET UG 2024. The court determined that no substantial evidence indicated widespread issues with the exam, thus deeming its cancellation unnecessary.
Court’s Observation on NEET Exam Integrity:-
Arguments regarding the integrity of the exam were acknowledged by Chief Justice Chandrachud. The bench, including Manoj Misra and Justices J.B. Pardiwala, heard from the union and mentioned that the candidates with individual grievances could seek resolution in the High Courts.
SC Judgement on NEET UG 2024:-
Delivering the judgment, the Chief Justice addressed whether a re-test should be conducted due to the alleged paper leak and systemic deficiencies. He noted that the NEET UG exam was conducted at 4,750 centers across 571 cities and 14 overseas locations. The court highlighted that 24 lakh students competed for 1,08,000 seats and scrutinized data from NTA.
The court determined that there was no significant evidence indicating that the exam results were compromised or that there was a widespread breach. Mandating a retest would disrupt the admission timeline, affect medical education, and disadvantage marginalized groups who benefit from reservation policies.
No Re-Test for NEET UG 2024:-
The Supreme Court rejected the idea of a re-test, noting the lack of substantial evidence indicating a widespread problem. The NTA had conducted a special exam for 1,563 candidates, giving them the option of a re-test or grace marks. The main focus was to uphold the integrity of the exam without causing disruptions.
Candidates with individual grievances, not covered by this ruling, can take their cases to the High Courts under Article 226 after withdrawing their petitions from the Supreme Court. Furthermore, the union has established a seven-member expert committee to ensure that future NEET UG exams are conducted without similar issues.
The NTA, which oversees the NEET UG examination, assured the court that they had implemented stringent measures to prevent any malpractice and swiftly addressed any reported incidents. The agency emphasized that the overall integrity of the exam was maintained, ensuring the results would be fair and reliable.
The Supreme Court's decision has alleviated the concerns of many students who were anxiously awaiting the NEET UG 2024 results. Following the court's directive, the NTA is expected to proceed with announcing the results, setting the stage for the next steps in the medical admission process.
NEET UG is a vital examination for aspiring medical students in India, as it determines admission to undergraduate medical courses in various colleges nationwide. This year, over 1.5 million candidates took the exam, making the court's decision highly significant and impactful.
As the controversy settles, the focus shifts to the upcoming results and the future of the aspiring doctors who undertook this challenging exam. The Supreme Court's ruling highlights the importance of robust security measures and timely interventions to uphold the credibility of high-stakes examinations in India.
