Supreme Court Says No To Re-NEET - 10 Important Points

The Supreme Court has decided against ordering a re-test for the NEET-UG 2024 exam, despite localised leaks of the question paper reported from Bihar, Jharkhand and Gujarat. The court said there was no evidence of a systemic breach or significant compromise in the exam’s integrity. This ruling affects 24 lakh students who took the exam, as the court concluded that the impact of the leak was minimal. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud emphasised the broader consequences of ordering a re-test, including disruption to the admission schedule, education, and future availability of medical professionals. Chief Justice Chandrachud referred to an interim ruling earlier this month, indicating that a re-test should be the “last option.” The court’s decision aims to maintain the integrity of the exam while considering the broader implications for students and the education system. NEET exam, an entrance cum eligibility test, is being held for admissions to over 1 lakh MBBS seats in the country.

Here are the key points from the court’s decision and related developments:

1. The Supreme Court ruled there will be no re-test for the NEET-UG 2024 exam, stating that the number of students involved in the leak (155) is too small to warrant canceling the entire exam for 24 lakh students.
2. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud acknowledged that the question paper was leaked at two exam centers in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, and Patna, Bihar, but emphasised that there is no evidence of a systemic breach.
3. The court reasoned that a re-test would have significant negative consequences, including disrupting the admission schedule and impacting education and the availability of medical professionals.
4. The court highlighted that directing a fresh exam would seriously disadvantage marginalised students, emphasising the broader social implications of such a decision.
5. “Data on record is not indicative of a systemic leak of the question paper, which would lead to the destruction of the sanctity of the exam,” stated the court.
6. “The court is mindful of the fact directing a fresh exam would have serious consequences on students, including destruction of admission schedule, effects on education, and impact on availability of medical professionals in the future,” it said.
7. The CBI identified Hazaribagh as ‘Ground Zero’ for the leak and has arrested multiple individuals, including Rakesh Ranjan, the alleged kingpin of the ‘solver gang’ involved in leaking question papers.
8. Reports indicated that the leaked question papers were available on social media platforms, including Telegram, at least 24 hours before the exam.
9. The court had previously considered segregating students who benefited from the leak but concluded that identifying and removing them from the admission process was not feasible.
10. The controversy surrounding the NEET-UG exam, held on May 5, 2024, triggered a massive political row, with opposition parties criticising the government for its handling of the situation.