'NTA Must Avoid Flip-Flops' : What Supreme Court Said In NEET Judgement | Top Points

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India, today, delivered a detailed judgment explaining its decision not to cancel the NEET-UG 2024 examination despite allegations of paper leaks and malpractices. The bench, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, and comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, highlighted significant lapses by the National Testing Agency (NTA) but ruled that the exam's overall integrity remained intact.

 Key Findings and Criticisms

The Supreme Court noted that there was no evidence to suggest a widespread leak of the NEET-UG 2024 question paper, and thus, the sanctity of the entire exam was not compromised. However, the Court did criticise the NTA for its "flip-flops" in handling the examination process.

• The NTA's decision to allow candidates to change exam centers and reopen registration was questioned.
• The agency was also criticised for initially awarding grace marks to 1,563 students due to a question paper mix-up, only to retract this decision and make those students reappear for a test.
• Another lapse involved awarding grace marks for an ambiguous question, later corrected based on an IIT-Delhi expert panel's opinion. This correction led to 44 students receiving full marks erroneously.

Also Read: 'No Retest,' Supreme Court Sets Out Directives To Improve Exam Process

 Supreme Court Directives To Improve Exam Process

The judgment outlined additional directives for the expert committee, constituted by the Union Government on June 22, to review and enhance the examination process:

1. Exam Security and SOPs: Develop robust mechanisms and SOPs for registration timelines, exam center changes, and the sealing and storage of OMR sheets
2.  Exam Centre Review: Evaluate and improve the process of exam center allocation.
3. CCTV Monitoring: Consider comprehensive CCTV monitoring at all exam centers.
4. Paper Handling: Review and suggest measures for the secure printing and transportation of exam papers, possibly using closed vehicles with real-time locks.
5. Identity Verification: Enhance candidate identity checks and introduce technological innovations to prevent impersonation while respecting privacy laws.

Formulate, Implement Program Based on Committee's Findings

The expert committee has been asked to prepare its report by September 30, 2024. Following this, the Ministry of Education will have a month to formulate and implement a program based on the committee's findings, with updates to be provided to the Court two weeks thereafter.

‘Leak Was Localised To Hazaribagh and Patna ’

The Supreme Court reiterated that the paper leak incidents were localised to Hazaribagh and Patna and did not constitute a systemic failure. The Court emphasised that ordering a retest would adversely affect over 23 lakh students and disrupt the academic schedule, leading to a cascading effect on medical education and the availability of medical professionals.

 Key Points Highlighted by the Court

• The paper leak was confined to specific centers and did not compromise the entire exam's integrity.
• The NTA was criticised for inconsistent decisions that did not serve students' best interests.
• The expert committee must address various examination process deficiencies and enhance security measures.
• A retest would have significant adverse consequences for the large number of students involved.