The Supreme Court of India has delivered a crucial judgment in the NEET (UG) 2024 Examination Integrity Case. The case involved the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Union of India in a dispute regarding the alleged question paper leakage and systemic deficiencies in the examination process. The Court’s decision, aimed at ensuring fairness and transparency, has far-reaching implications for over two million students who appeared for the exam. Let’s delve into the details of this landmark judgment.
Facts
- NEET (UG) 2024 examination conducted by National Testing Agency on 5 May 2024.
- FIRs registered in multiple states transferred to CBI for investigation.
- NTA, Union of India, and CBI called for disclosures on affidavit by interim order dated 8 July 2024.
- Petitioners assert for a re-test due to question paper leakage and systemic deficiencies in examination
- Examination conducted at 4,750 centers in 571 cities and 14 overseas cities.
- Threshold for qualification set at 50th percentile (164 marks out of 720).
- One negative mark for an incorrect answer.
- Candidates meeting the threshold considered for admission but not guaranteed into MBBS program.
- The Court noted the need to scrutinize certain aspects based on the data emerging on the record.
- These aspects include whether the alleged breach occurred at a systemic level, whether it affects the integrity of the examination process as a whole, and if it is possible to differentiate between those benefiting from the fraud and untainted students.
- Specific disclosures were requested from relevant agencies of the Union to address the highlighted issues.
- Arguments were heard over four days, considering submissions from the petitioners, the Union of India, and the National Testing Agency.
Analysis
- An investigation by the CBI revealed a potential involvement of an increased number of beneficiaries beyond the current suspects.
- The investigation is ongoing as per disclosures by the CBI.
- As of now, around 155 students from Hazaribagh and Patna centers are suspected beneficiaries of the fraud.
- The court independently reviewed the NTA data to avoid controversy.
- At present, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest the entire exam result is compromised or that there was a systemic breach.
- The data analysis does not show a systemic question paper leak affecting exam integrity.
- The court’s decision will be based on segregating tainted students from untainted ones.
- The matter affects the careers of over two million students, necessitating urgency in resolution.
- The objection to alleged bias in the IIT Madras report will be addressed later.
- NTA will update the ranks of all candidates based on the correct option determined by the IIT Delhi panel.
- The principal issue before the Court is the sanctity of the NEET (UG) 2024 examination.
- The Court has decided not to scrap the test and reconvene a fresh examination.
- Students with individual grievances can pursue their rights and remedies through the jurisdictional High Courts under Article 226 of the Constitution.
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Decision
- Permission granted to amend the petition during the week.
- Petitioners must seek withdrawal of their petitions before moving the High Court for relief.
- Committee to abide by further directions issued by the Court in its final judgment for the NEET (UG) examinations.
- Transfer petitions regarding the validity of NEET (UG) 2024 allowed.
- Multiple Writ Petitions and Interlocutory Applications dismissed as withdrawn with liberty to pursue rights in accordance with the law.
- Individual grievances may be addressed before the jurisdictional High Court.
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Case Title: VANSHIKA YADAV Vs. UNION OF INDIA (2024 INSC 553)
Case Number: W.P.(C) No.-000335 – 2024
