The Supreme Court has advised caution regarding petitions for a re-test of the May 5 NEET-UG exam, which has faced issues with leaked questions and ‘grace marks’ awarded to 1,563 students. The court highlighted that a re-test should be the “last option” and mentioned specific circumstances under which it might be necessary.
The court indicated that if the time lag between the leak and the exam was limited, it would argue against a re-test. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, leading the three-judge bench, mentioned that if students were exposed to leaked questions on the morning of the exam, the spread of the leak might not have been extensive.
The bench expressed reluctance to order a re-test for nearly 24 lakh students, many of whom come from poor families and would struggle to afford the cost of traveling to exam centers. The Chief Justice emphasized that the sanctity of the exam had been compromised, but a re-test would only be considered if it was clear that the leak had significantly affected the results.
Instead of an immediate re-test, the court advised forming a multi-disciplinary panel to investigate the issue. The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the exam, has been instructed not to reveal sensitive details about the printing process. The CBI and police are already investigating the matter, with multiple arrests made and individuals questioned.
The government, in an affidavit, stated that it does not intend to cancel the May 5 exam or hold a re-test, arguing that such actions would jeopardize the future of honest candidates. The court, however, criticized the government for being in denial about the incident and stressed the need to identify and punish those who benefited from the leak.
The court acknowledged that question papers were available on social media at least 24 hours before the exam, which could have led to widespread cheating. This acknowledgment comes amid concerns raised after the results were declared, showing an unusually high number of perfect scores and questions about the award of grace marks.
The NEET-UG controversy has also sparked a political row, with opposition parties attacking the ruling BJP in Parliament. The Congress-led INDI alliance has demanded accountability and raised concerns about the integrity of the exam process.
The next hearing on this case is set for Thursday, where further details about the investigation and possible actions will be discussed. The NEET-PG exam, which was also affected, has been rescheduled and will be held later this month.
Comments