NEET-UG 2024 Exam Paper Leak, Supreme Court Live Updates: The Supreme Court on Monday, during the hearing on the NEET-UG exam row, acknowledged that the paper was leaked and requested details on the number of beneficiaries and the actions taken against them. The three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, stated that if the leak took place through electronic means like Telegram and WhatsApp, it would have spread “like wildfire.” The court has ordered the National Testing Agency (NTA) for disclosures. The next hearing is scheduled for July 11.
The bench also included Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. Several students and coaching institutes have filed petitions against the NEET UG 2024 results, raising concerns such as paper leaks, OMR sheet manipulation, impersonation, and cheating.Lawyers representing one petitioner are seeking the exam’s cancellation due to these issues. CJI Chandrachud noted that if the leak spread via social media, a re-test would be necessary.
Meanwhile, the Union government has expressed its unwillingness to re-conduct the NEET UG 2024 in its submission before the Supreme Court. They argue that scrapping the exam entirely would “seriously jeopardize the lakhs of honest candidates” who appeared for the exam on May 5 this year.The central government and the National Testing Agency (NTA) have filed affidavits opposing the demand to cancel the exam. They have informed the court that the instances of alleged malpractices are isolated and do not warrant scrapping the entire exam, which would jeopardize the future of many honest students.
NEET UG 2024 Highlights: Supreme Court heared 56 petitions related to controversy-ridden NEET-UG.
The NEET UG case has been scheduled for a hearing on July 11.
"Affidavit by NTA, Union and the one by the CBI shall be placed on record at 5 pm on Wednesday and submitted to the counsel of the petitioners as well," states the CJI.
'...We are also of the view that since investigation has been entrusted to CBI, a status report must be filed by the Investigating Officer (IO) indicating the status of investigation upto date and material which has come to light...,' CJI dictated.
In the meantime, a request has been made to list the matters for further hearing on Thursday, and the report of the Investigating Officer (CBI) should be placed on record. "All counsels for petitioners who are desirous of pressing for re-test shall file a common set of submissions not exceeding 10 pages before Thursday," the CJI directed.
Highlighting the importance of maintaining the exam's integrity, the CJI stated, "The court is concerned about ensuring the sanctity of the NEET test so that such instances are not repeated. It would be necessary for the government to consider setting up a multi-disciplinary team of renowned experts."
Moreover, he added, "If a committee has already been set up, full details should be made available to the court. The court may then consider whether the committee should be allowed to proceed or if its composition should be modified."
"We intend to direct NTA to make full disclosure. It can broadly be classified into 3 aspects: (1) nature of leak (2) places where leak took place and (3) lag of time between occurrence of leak and conduct of exam," CJI said.
"In this batch, one of the prayers is for a court-mandated re-test of the exam. NEET UG 2024 exam consisted of multiple choice questions involving 180 questions. Each question carried 4 marks making for a total of 720 marks for the exam, 45 marks were for Chemistry, Physics, Botany and Zoology. 1 negative mark per wrong answer was also envisaged. In support of re-exam, petitioners have relied on 2 circumstances," CJI observed.
"First, that candidates securing max 720 marks were confined to a few between 2020-2023. But in 2024, as many as 67 candidates are reported to have secured max of 720 marks," he further stated.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud noted a significant increase and highlighted another argument based on comparative rank data from 2022, 2023, and 2024: "Chart indicates, students receiving a specific level of marks between 539-700 who secured a particular rank in 2022 secured lower ranks in 2023 and radically lower rank in 2024."
'NTA conducted NEET-UG on May 5, 2024. Results were declared on 4 June, 2024.
From material at present stage, it appears that on 5 May, an FIR was lodged in Patna alleging a leak in the NEET UG 2024 question papers, implicating offences under sections,' CJI dictates
The Solicitor General has asked for time till Wednesday to share all details asked by the Supreme Court and next hearing on Thursday.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) asked government lawyers how many students across the country were affected by the leak and where they were located. He also queried whether the identification of students who had benefited from the leak was still ongoing, warning that the cancellation of exams for 24 lakh (2.4 million) students would be a serious matter.
"Let us not be self-denial about what happened," CJI remarked during the hearing.
The court also sought details on the government's efforts to identify beneficiaries of the fraud and requested information on the distribution of marks among students this year compared to previous years.
Government counsel emphasised that the number of students scoring top marks, such as 720 out of a possible 720, had been highlighted by petitioners. The court sought percentile distribution data across categories to determine if the exam results were skewed.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) asked government lawyers how many students across the country were affected by the leak and where they were located. He also queried whether the identification of students who had benefited from the leak was still ongoing, warning that the cancellation of exams for 24 lakh (2.4 million) students would be a serious matter.
"Let us not be self-denial about what happened," CJI remarked during the hearing.
The court also sought details on the government's efforts to identify beneficiaries of the fraud and requested information on the distribution of marks among students this year compared to previous years.
Government counsel emphasised that the number of students scoring top marks, such as 720 out of a possible 720, had been highlighted by petitioners. The court sought percentile distribution data across categories to determine if the exam results were skewed.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud explained during the hearing that the possibility of a retest for NEET UG hinges on the timeline between the paper leak and the exam day. "If the timeline between the paper leak and the exam day is less, then the retest for a NEET UG may not happen. However, it may make sense if the time gap between the paper leak and the exam is more", CJI observed.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud pressed NTA counsel Naresh Kaushik for details during the NEET 2024 hearing. CJI sought clarification on how question papers were distributed abroad and when they were sent through embassies, probing whether diplomatic bags or couriers were used.
Further questioning included the timing and security protocols for distributing question papers to cities and storing them in bank lockers. The CJI also inquired about the preparation process for the question papers.
Counsel 1 stated during the ongoing Supreme Court hearing that on May 5, students were allegedly made to memorise answers to the exam questions. A video purportedly showing this activity was also mentioned, along with claims that the question paper circulated a day prior, on May 4.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud inquired about the handling of question papers, asking about the time they were sent to lockers. Adv Naresh Kaushik, representing NTA, responded that papers were secured in two lockers and were retrieved around 10.30-11 o'clock on May 5.
CJI further questioned the number of exam centers and students who appeared.
Counsel 1 has disclosed significant details during the ongoing Supreme Court hearing on NEET 2024, stating that the question paper was circulated via the Telegram app on mobile phones. Additionally, Counsel 1 mentioned a video showing printouts taken from a Wi-Fi printer in a school on May 5. Bihar police have identified groups of candidates allegedly involved, rather than just a few individuals.
The tampering with question paper boxes remains undetected, and investigations are underway to determine the timing of the leakage in the custody chain.
Counsel 1 disclosed that six FIRs have been filed in connection with the NEET 2024 case across various states:
- Patna
- Delhi
- Rajasthan
- Gujarat
- Maharashtra
- Jharkhand
During the Supreme Court proceedings on NEET 2024, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud questioned, "So the fact that there was a paper leak is admitted?"
Solicitor General responded, "At one location, individuals have been arrested, and students who benefited have had their results withheld."
During the Supreme Court's hearing on NEET 2024, Counsel 1 raised concerns over the credibility of exam results, alleging that Bihar police identified an organised group behind the inflation of toppers' scores. "67 candidates scoring 720/720, with 6 from one centre, is mathematically not possible," Counsel 1 stated.
The Supreme Court has begun hearing petitions regarding the NEET-UG 2024 exam. Counsel for the petitioners presented a list of dates, seeking the cancellation of the exam held on May 5. They argued that the results, initially set for June 14, were preponed to June 4.
The counsel also highlighted an email from a private counseling entity to the National Testing Agency (NTA) alleging an OMR scam. Furthermore, they mentioned that a Telegram channel disclosed the question paper and answers a day before the exam, which the NTA acknowledged in a press release.
As the Supreme Court prepares to hear the NEET-UG 2024 case, security has been increased at the residence of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Union of India has taken this measure in anticipation of the upcoming hearing.
The Supreme Court bench has assembled and is set to hear the NEET-UG 2024 petition shortly. Chief Justice of India announced that they will address one bail matter before proceeding with the NEET-UG case.
During Monday's Supreme Court hearing on NEET-UG 2024, senior advocate Amit Anand Tiwari highlighted a petition from candidates at a center in Meghalaya. According to LiveLaw, the students claim they were not given the full allotted time to complete their exam.
The Supreme Court will resume hearing pleas related to NEET-UG 2024 at 2 pm today, following a lunch break. The bench is expected to reconvene shortly.
The government-appointed high-level committee, led by former ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan, has called for public suggestions on reforming the National Testing Agency's (NTA) examination processes. The invitation for suggestions, aimed at enhancing the functioning of the NTA, closed on July 7.
The committee was established to evaluate and recommend improvements for the NTA, which conducts the NEET and other national-level exams.
In a unanimous decision, the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution on Monday calling for the abolition of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) nationwide. The resolution, introduced by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, also urged the central government to approve the state's NEET exemption bill.
This move comes amidst allegations of irregularities in this year’s NEET medical entrance test, sparking significant political controversy.
In a significant development at today's Supreme Court hearing on the NEET UG 2024 examination, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud announced to take up the matter after lunch break. Emphasising procedural clarity, he queried about the primary petitioners slated to present their arguments.
"We will resume proceedings by hearing from those advocating for a re-test," stated Chief Justice Chandrachud, addressing the challenge to the exam's validity. "Following this initial session, the Court intends to hear responses from the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Government, completing the comprehensive hearing on this contentious issue.
A counsel mentions the plea filed by Gujarat students opposing the re-exam of NEET UG 2024. CJI Chandrachud remarked, "We can't hear all counsels; we will hear broadly from representatives." Judges are currently discussing.
The Supreme Court hearing on the irregularities in the NEET-UG examination is set to commence shortly, led by a bench with Chief Justice DY Chandrachud at the helm.
Around 24 lakh medical aspirants took the NEET-UG 2024, a highly competitive entrance test for undergraduate medical courses, conducted by the NTA on May 5. The results, initially slated for June 14, were instead announced on June 4, reportedly due to expedited evaluation of answer sheets.
The Supreme Court has convened for hearings, but as of now, the NEET-UG hearing, listed as item 31, has not commenced yet.
The Centre has stood firm on its decision regarding the NEET-UG exam amidst ongoing controversy, informing the Supreme Court that it does not intend to cancel the exam or order a retest. In an affidavit submitted ahead of today's hearing, the Centre emphasised that there were no widespread irregularities in the exam.
Arguing against the cancellation of the 2024 exam, the Centre expressed concerns that such a move would severely impact the futures of numerous honest candidates who participated in the test. It underscored that without substantial evidence of large-scale breaches of confidentiality, cancelling the exam would not be a justifiable course of action.