Supreme Court Slams NTA For NEET-UG 2024 Irregularities, Demands "Zero Tolerance" Approach

The Supreme Court reprimanded the National Testing Agency (NTA) today (June 18), stressing the need for zero tolerance towards even "0.001 per cent negligence" in conducting the NEET-UG 2024 exams. The Court highlighted the immense effort candidates invest in preparing for this nationwide examination.

A vacation bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath and SV Bhatti, heard a writ petition echoing previous concerns about issues like paper leaks, malpractices, and controversial grace marks. The bench consolidated this petition with other similar cases scheduled for July 8.

Addressing Advocates Kanu Agarwal and Vardhaman Kaushik, representing the Union Government and the NTA, Justice Bhatti emphasised that any negligence, no matter how small, must be thoroughly addressed. He stressed the importance of treating these matters seriously rather than as adversarial litigation. Justice Bhatti pointed out the societal danger posed by candidates who might become doctors through fraudulent means, acknowledging the hard work candidates put into this competitive exam.

Justice Bhatti urged the NTA to be proactive and admit mistakes if any are found to restore public confidence in the NEET examinations. He emphasised the need for transparency and accountability, suggesting that honest admissions of errors and corrective actions inspire confidence in the NTA's performance.

Petitioners expressed concerns about the status of the investigation into the NEET-UG paper leak cases, noting the urgency due to the upcoming counselling scheduled for July 6. The bench instructed the NTA and Union Government to file their responses within two weeks and asked the counsels to present detailed submissions on July 8.

Justice Nath underscored the need for timely action from the authorities. The Union's counsel highlighted the recent decision to revoke grace marks for 1,563 students as evidence of the authorities' responsiveness to candidates' concerns.