Supreme Court Refuses To Cancel NEET-UG 2024 Exam, Citing Lack of Evidence Suggesting ‘Systemic Leak’

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday ruled against a re-test for the NEET-UG 2024 exam, citing a lack of evidence for a widespread question paper leak. The decision comes after controversy erupted over irregularities in the medical entrance exam, including confirmed leaks in Patna and Hazaribagh.

While acknowledging the leaks, the court stated that the available data doesn’t suggest a “systemic breach” that would invalidate the entire exam. Re-testing over 23 lakh students would cause significant disruption to student schedules and potentially delay medical professional availability, the court reasoned.

The Chief Justice-led bench, headed by D.Y. Chandrachud, emphasized the potential negative consequences of a re-test. Disrupting admission schedules and impacting future healthcare professionals were cited as key concerns. The court also highlighted the potential disadvantage a re-test could pose for marginalised students.

The judgement acknowledges leaks at exam centres in Hazaribagh and Patna. These leaks are being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing a nationwide “solver gang” network suspected of leaking question papers.

The controversy has raised questions about the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) ability to conduct secure examinations. The NTA is a central government body responsible for conducting competitive exams like NEET-UG and UGC-NET. Notably, the UGC-NET exam was recently scrapped due to a potential compromise.