New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to halt the counselling of students who have cleared the controversy-ridden NEET-UG 2024 exam for admissions to medical colleges.
“If the examination goes, the counselling will also go,” said a vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and S.V.N. Bhatti, underscoring the court’s decision to maintain the counselling schedule.
Key Developments:
- NEET-UG 2024 Counselling Continues: The Supreme Court will conduct a comprehensive hearing on 8 July but has decided not to stop the ongoing counselling process.
- Retest for Grace Marks Awardees: The top court also refused to halt the retest—rescheduled for 23 June—for 1,563 candidates awarded grace marks.
- Paper-Leak Allegations and Legal Proceedings: The court has halted proceedings related to paper-leak allegations in the Rajasthan, Calcutta, and Bombay high courts, responding to a plea from the National Testing Agency (NTA) seeking to transfer these cases to the apex court.
Discrepancies Highlighted:
- Scores Under Scrutiny: Discrepancies in this year’s NEET exam were highlighted during the hearing. An unprecedented 67 students scored full marks (720/720), prompting calls to investigate their academic backgrounds.
- Exam Time Loss: Lawyers raised concerns about students losing significant exam time at a Meghalaya testing centre and alleged inaccuracies in multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
- Independent Committee Plea: A plea filed by Unacademy emphasized the need for an independent committee to address these issues, arguing that the current NTA committees lack independence due to the chairman’s dual role.
Controversies Following Results:
Following the release of the NEET 2024 results on 4 June, various controversies erupted. Allegations of question paper leaks and discrepancies were raised by students, coaching centers, and social groups. The situation escalated with the grant of grace marks to over 1,500 medical aspirants, resulting in cases filed in seven high courts.
- Government’s Response: On 13 June, the government informed the Supreme Court of its decision to revoke grace marks awarded to 1,536 students, notifying them of their revised scores and offering them the option to reappear in the exam on 23 June.
- CBI Inquiry: On 14 June, the Supreme Court issued notices to the Centre and the NTA in response to a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the alleged paper leak.
Nearly 2.4 million students sat for the NEET-UG 2024 exam, aiming for admission into undergraduate medical programs. The Supreme Court’s decision to proceed with the counselling process amidst these controversies underscores the complexity and high stakes of the situation.
We wish all the best to the students and authorities involved in navigating this challenging period.
Stay tuned to Paperdabba.com for more updates on the NEET-UG 2024 developments and other news.
