The Supreme Court has acknowledged that the NEET UG 2024 exam has been compromised due to a leak, raising concerns over the integrity of the examination process.
During a session involving around 38 petitions concerning irregularities in the NEET UG 2024 exam and demands for a retest, Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud emphasized the gravity of the situation. He mentioned that if the leak has spread through social media and the authorities cannot identify those responsible, a retest must be considered.
“We must carefully assess the extent of the leak before ordering a retest, especially since it involves 23 lakh students. This affects not only financial costs but also travel and academic schedules. We need detailed information on the nature, timing, and dissemination of the leak, as well as the actions taken by the Centre and NTA to identify those who benefited from the wrongdoing,” stated CJI Chandrachud.
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The three-judge bench, which includes Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, is actively reviewing the petitions. Chief Justice Chandrachud has inquired specifically about the leak at two exam centers. He sought clarity on the NTA’s process for printing and distributing the question papers, including details about their handling and transmission both domestically and internationally.
Key questions raised by the CJI include the timing of the paper distribution, the method of sending papers abroad, and whether diplomatic channels or couriers were used. The court is keen to determine if the leak occurred on the exam day, May 5, or earlier, stressing the importance of identifying the beneficiaries.
The counsel pointed out inconsistencies in the NTA’s statements regarding the leak. While the NTA described the leak as minimal, the CBI is actively investigating six cases, with FIRs filed in Patna, Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand.
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