Supreme Court Demands Answers from NTA Over NEET-UG 2024 Paper Leak Allegations

Justice Nath stated, "Issue notice, in the meantime response will be filed by the NTA...let the counselling start; we are not stopping the counselling," emphasizing the necessity of addressing the issue while allowing NEET-UG 2024 counselling to proceed.

In a significant development in the NEET UG 2024 controversy, the Supreme Court has issued a notice to the National Testing Agency (NTA) in response to a plea seeking the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2024 exam over an alleged paper leak.

The bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Ahasanuddin Amanullah, emphasized the need for clarity, stating, "Sanctity has been affected, so we need answers."

The plea, filed by advocates Abdullah Mohammed Faiz and Dr. Shaik Roshan Mohiddin from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, calls for the recall of NEET-UG 2024 results. The petitioners allege discrepancies in the allocation of grace marks and challenge the statistical improbability of the exceptionally high scores achieved by some candidates.

Justice Asmanullah remarked on the necessity of addressing the issue, highlighting the impact on the exam's integrity. Justice Nath added, "Issue notice, in the meantime response will be filed by the NTA...let the counselling start; we are not stopping the counselling," as reported by Live Law.

The petition underscores concerns over the lack of transparency in the grace marks allocation and discrepancies in the provisional answer key, which have stirred apprehension among students and educators. The petitioners stress that upholding meritocracy and fairness is crucial for the credibility of the medical entrance exam system.

The NTA, facing accusations of question paper leaks and mark inflation, has denied any misconduct. However, the petitioners insist on a thorough investigation to ensure the integrity of the NEET-UG examination process. The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing on July 8, along with a similar plea, to further deliberate on the matter.