The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2024 has been questioned in controversy due to allegations of widespread paper leaks, leading to widespread student protests. In light of these issues, the Supreme Court of India intervened, resulting in the release of the NEET UG 2024 scorecard under its directives.
Background of this Controversy
Lakhs of students appeared for NEET 2024, it is a crucial examination for the medical aspirants across India. However, allegations of paper leaks emerged, causing significant distress among the candidates. The scandal sparked mass protests, with thousands of students, parents and their teachers taking to the streets demanding justice and transparency
Legal Battle and Supreme Court Intervention
The matter got lifted to the Supreme Court, where a petition was filed highlighting the professional suffering endured by thousands of students due to the alleged leaks. The court acknowledged the severity of the issue, noting the widespread impact on students’ futures.
A three-judge panel, including the Chief Justice of India, Justice DY Chandrachud, presided over to hear the case. Senior Advocate Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented the National Testing Agency (NTA), while Advocate Hooda represented the affected candidates. During the proceedings, the credibility of reports from IIT Madras, which were central to the case, was also questioned.
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Court Proceedings and Observations
During the hearings, Chief Justice of India (CJI) remarked on the gravity of the allegations, stating, “You are saying the leak is widespread and systematic; now you have to formulate the point.” Advocate Hooda argued that the NTA’s exam conduct demonstrated a systematic failure, revealing that exam papers were in the custody of a private courier for six days and were transported via an e-rickshaw.
The CJI observed that the mishandling of exam papers appeared to be motivated by monetary gain, further intensifying the scrutiny on the NTA’s processes.
The NEET UG 2024 significance
Despite the controversies, the NEET UG 2024 saw a significant number of registrations. Out of the 24.69 lakh registered candidates, approximately 23 lakh appeared for the examination. The large-scale participation underscores the importance of the NEET exam for medical aspirants in India.
Aftermath of this Controversy
The release of the NEET UG 2024 scorecard, following the Supreme Court’s directions, aims to restore some order and fairness to the examination process. However, the incident has raised serious concerns about the integrity of competitive exams in India. Moving forward, there is a pressing need for robust measures to ensure the security and fairness of such high-stakes tests, safeguarding the aspirations and futures of millions of students is the need of the hour.
Concluding the rift, the NEET UG 2024 controversy highlights the critical need for transparency and accountability in the conduct of national examinations. The Supreme Court’s intervention and subsequent release of the scorecards mark a significant step towards addressing these issues, but ongoing vigilance and reforms are still not sufficient to insure justice for the youth striving to appear in such exams.
