Supreme Court verdict on NEET-UG 2024: ‘No systemic breach of sanctity’ but NTA must avoid 'flip-flops'

On Friday, August 2, the Supreme Court said that the National Testing Agency or NTA must avoid the "flip-flops" made concerning the NEET-UG 2024 exam. It said that such "flip-flops" in a national exam do not serve the students' interests. The Supreme Court was pronouncing its verdict containing reasons for not cancelling the 2024 NEET-UG medical entrance examination despite a raging controversy over paper allegations and other irregularities in the exam.

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The Supreme Court said that its judgment highlighted all the deficiencies in the structural processes of the NTA. “We cannot afford this for the betterment of the students,” said the Supreme Court.

The top court added that the Centre must rectify the issues that have arisen this year so they do not repeat.

The Supreme Court, however, said there was no systemic breach of the NEET-UG 2024 papers, and the leak was only limited to Patna and Hazaribagh.

In its judgment, the Supreme Court also said the Centre's committee should consider framing a standard operating procedure (SOP) for technological advancements to identify potential weaknesses in the examination system's cyber security, processes for enhanced identity checks, and CCTV camera monitoring of exam centres.

The bench also issued a slew of directions. It expanded the remit of the Centre-appointed committee headed by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan to review the NTA’s functioning and recommend exam reforms.

It said that since the panel's remit has been expanded, the committee will submit its report by September 30 on various measures to rectify deficiencies in the examination system.

The bench said the Radhakrishnan panel should consider framing a standard operating procedure for adopting technological advancements to strengthen the examination system.

The top court said the Centre should rectify the issues arising during the NEET-UG examination.

Supreme Court's July 23 verdict on NEET UG 2024

On July 23, the top court dismissed the pleas seeking cancellation and re-test of the controversy-ridden exam. It held that there was no evidence to conclude that it was "vitiated" because of a "systemic breach" of its sanctity.

The Supreme Court, while pronouncing the order, said its detailed reasons would follow.

The interim verdict came as a shot in the arm for the embattled NDA government and the NTA, which were facing strong criticism and protests on the streets and in Parliament over alleged large-scale malpractices, such as question paper leaks, fraud and impersonation, in the prestigious test held on May 5.

In 2024, over 23 lakh students took the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other related courses.

Supreme Court verdict on NEET-UG 2024: ‘No Systemic Breach Of Sanctity' But NTA Must Avoid 'Flip-Flops