The Supreme Court has taken a significant step in response to mounting concerns over the integrity of the NEET-UG 2024 examination process.
On Friday, a vacation bench led by Justice Vikram Nath issued notice to the National Testing Agency (NTA) and other concerned parties on a plea seeking cancellation of the upcoming counselling and seat allotment process scheduled to commence on 6 July.
The bench, which also included Justice S V N Bhatti, declined a request to postpone the counselling start date by two days until 8 July.
Justifying its decision, the bench noted that delaying the commencement could result in irreparable loss of time, emphasizing that the first phase of counselling spans a crucial week.
In its directive, the apex court ordered all respondents, including the NTA and the Union of India, to submit their responses within two weeks.
Furthermore, the court directed other respondents to submit their responses by the upcoming hearing date on 8 July, when the matter will undergo further consideration.
This development follows a petition filed through advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava, citing grave allegations against the NEET-UG 2024 examination process.
The plea drew parallels with the 2015 judgment that nullified the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) due to widespread irregularities, prompting a re-test.
The petitioners argued that the allegations surrounding NEET-UG 2024 are even more severe, demanding similar judicial intervention to ensure fairness and justice for approximately 24 lakh aspiring medical students.
The plea underscored revelations made by the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police, where suspects confessed to receiving leaked question papers a day prior to the examination, asserting their contents mirrored those of the actual NEET-UG 2024 paper.
In past instances, the Supreme Court has refrained from intervening in ongoing admission processes despite allegations of malpractice surrounding the NEET examinations.
However, the current plea advocates for swift action in light of the purported serious irregularities.
The apex court’s decision to issue notice signifies a pivotal juncture in the legal battle surrounding NEET-UG 2024, setting the stage for a critical hearing on 8 July that could potentially influence the fate of thousands of students nationwide.
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