The Supreme Court ruled against conducting a re-test for the 2024 NEET-UG examination, stating that there is insufficient evidence of a “systemic breach” or compromise in the exam’s “sanctity,” despite two localized leaks of the question paper.
The court acknowledged the issue of the leaked question paper, but asserted that there is no conclusive evidence suggesting that the integrity of the exam was severely affected or that the exam results were invalidated. “Data on record does not indicate a systemic leak that would undermine the sanctity of the exam,” the court stated.
The decision came while hearing petitions demanding either a re-test or cancellation of the NEET-UG exam, which is crucial for admission into undergraduate medical courses.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, leading the bench, noted that ordering a re-test for the 23.33 lakh aspirants would have profound consequences, including disrupting the admission schedule, impacting education, and affecting future medical professional availability. The court also highlighted the potential disadvantage this would pose to marginalized students.
In a previous interim ruling, the court had indicated that a re-test would be a “last option” and had considered the minimal time gap between the leak and the exam as a factor arguing against the necessity of a re-test. “If students were asked to memorize leaked questions shortly before the exam, the leak may not have been widespread,” the court had observed.
Despite confirming the leaks at two exam centers in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh and Patna in Bihar, the court refrained from ordering a re-test. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is investigating a nationwide solver gang involved in leaking question papers, with multiple arrests made, including that of Rakesh Ranjan, alias Rocky, the alleged mastermind.
The court referred to CBI reports indicating that at least 155 students from the affected centers appeared to benefit from the leaks. However, it also considered the impact of a re-test on students, citing earlier discussions about possibly segregating and excluding students who benefited from the leaks.
The controversy surrounding the 2024 NEET-UG, held on May 5, emerged when results showed an unusually high number of perfect scores, including six from a coaching center in Haryana. There were also concerns over the awarding of ‘grace marks’ to 1,563 students. A retest for these students yielded mixed results, with many scoring lower than their initial marks.
This controversy has intensified political debates, with opposition parties criticizing the government’s handling of the situation both in and outside Parliament.
