Supreme Court Issues Notice to Central Government and NTA on NEET-UG Petitions

The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Central Government and the National Testing Agency (NTA) regarding eight new petitions challenging the NEET-UG exam. The court has demanded a response within two weeks and scheduled a hearing for all the petitions on July 8. During the initial hearing, the petitioners’ lawyer requested a stay on the counseling process. However, the Supreme Court denied this request, stating that if the exam is eventually canceled, the counseling will automatically be annulled.

Notice for Case Transfer

Additionally, the Supreme Court has issued a notice to petitioners involved in various High Court cases in response to four transfer petitions filed by the NTA. The NTA seeks to consolidate pending petitions from different High Courts to the Supreme Court. A similar notice had been issued earlier by the Supreme Court regarding another transfer petition from the NTA. Among the new petitions, one notable submission was made by a group of 20 students, including Tanmay Sharma.

Student Demands

The petitioners have called for an investigation led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or another agency under Supreme Court supervision. They demand an academic and forensic examination of students who scored over 620 marks in the NEET-UG exam by an independent agency or a Supreme Court-appointed committee. Furthermore, they request the NEET exam be conducted again and urge the Central Government and NTA to implement measures ensuring transparency, preventing paper leaks, and curbing unfair practices in future exams.

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Another petition filed by Priya Gupta, a student from Aurangabad, Bihar, also seeks a CBI inquiry and demands the cancellation of the NEET-UG exam. Priya Gupta’s father remains optimistic that the NEET 2024 exam will eventually be canceled.

Supreme Court’s Warning

Previously, the Supreme Court had issued a stern warning to the NTA, emphasizing the importance of accountability. The court asserted that even a 0.01% fault in the exam process would be met with strict action, recognizing the immense effort students invest in their preparation. The court highlighted the societal risks posed by fraudulent medical professionals and urged the NTA to address students’ complaints seriously. The Supreme Court stressed that any errors in the examination process should be acknowledged and rectified promptly, underscoring the expectation of impartiality from the NTA.