SC issues notice to govt and NTA regarding requests for cancellation of NEET-UG 2024: Key developments

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday sought a response from the central government and the National Testing Agency (NTA) on pleas for cancellation of the NEET-UG 2024 exam.

It also stayed pending proceedings on several petitions relating to medical examination which were being considered by various high courts across the country. The petitions are scheduled to be heard on July 8.

This came after the Ministry of Education on Wednesday decided to cancel the UGC-NET exam “based on inputs from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, prima facie indication that the integrity of the review may have been compromised. been compromised.”

Here are the main developments of the story:
SC to hear petitions on NEET-UG 2024 on July 8; all proceedings before HC have been stayed
The SC bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti stayed some of the pleas related to the medical examination which were being heard in several high courts across the country. The case will be heard on July 8.

Notices have been issued to the parties concerned to respond to four separate pleas filed by the NTA. These pleas seek transfer of several pending petitions, including those related to alleged paper leaks, from the high courts to the Supreme Court.

“Issue an opinion, returnable on July 8,” indicated the judiciary.

“In the meantime, proceedings before the high courts will remain suspended,” the text adds.

Counseling process for NEET-UG 2024 continues
The counseling process for NEET-UG 2024, which is scheduled to begin on July 6, has not been suspended.

“All this was discussed from day one and they (some applicants) requested a suspension of consultations. We denied this,” the bench said.

“At the end of the day, if you all pass, everything will be fine. The exam will be held and counseling will also be held,” he adds.

One detained over alleged medical examination irregularities
While hearing the petitions, a lawyer informed the bench that an individual had been arrested in Bihar in connection with the probe into alleged irregularities in the examination.

He further mentioned that FIRs had been filed in Bihar and Gujarat, suggesting that the police should provide a status report on their investigations into these cases.

Education ministry seeks detailed report from Bihar Police on NEET probe
The Education Department on Wednesday sought a detailed report from the Economic Offenses Unit of the Bihar Police regarding alleged irregularities in the NEET (UG) 2024 exam conducted in Patna.

Linking RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav to Sikandar Yadvendu, who was arrested in connection with the NEET question paper leak, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha on Wednesday said the latter was closely linked to Pritam Kumar, the former’s personal secretary.

“Sikandar Yadvendu is a close relative of Tejashwi Yadav’s PS Pritam Kumar. An NHAI guest house has been booked for Sikandar’s sister Reena Yadav and son Anurag Yadav to stay on May 4. A phone number and ‘Mantri Ji’ were mentioned in the NHAI guest house diary. The investigating agency is working to find out the identity of this Mantri Ji,” Sinha said.

“Problem related to pardons completely resolved”
In a press release issued on Wednesday, the Education Ministry said, “As far as the NEET(UG)-2024 examination is concerned, the issue related to pardons has already been fully resolved. With regard to certain alleged irregularities in the conduct of the examination in Patna, a detailed report has been sought from the Economic Offenses Unit, the Bihar Police will take further action on receipt of this report.

This happened after the NTA decided to withdraw grace marks awarded to 1,563 students. This gave candidates the opportunity to take a new test.

The NEET (UG) 2024 exam, conducted by the NTA on May 5 at 4,750 centers, saw around 24 lakh candidates participating. Originally scheduled for June 14, the results were released on June 4, probably due to the rapid completion of the answer sheet evaluations.

Several petitions have been filed, including by Alakh Pandey, CEO of EdTech company ‘Physics Wallah’, challenging the NTA’s alleged random allocation of grace marks to over 1,500 NEET-UG 2024 candidates.