Introduction
On July 23, 2024, the Supreme Court of India delivered a significant judgment regarding the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate (UG) medical admissions. The Court refused to cancel the NEET-UG 2024 exam despite allegations of a paper leak and malpractices, emphasizing the absence of evidence indicating a systemic breach that would undermine the exam’s sanctity. This decision, impacting over 23 lakh students, highlighted the Court’s cautious approach to balancing academic integrity and practical consequences.
Background and Facts
NEET-UG 2024, conducted on May 5, 2024, and its results declared on June 4, 2024, faced serious allegations of paper leaks and malpractices, particularly at exam centers in Hazaribagh (Jharkhand) and Patna (Bihar). Following these allegations, the matter was escalated to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which confirmed that 155 students from these centers appeared to benefit from the leaked papers. However, no evidence suggested a widespread, systemic leak affecting the entire exam process.
Issues Presented
- Allegations of Systemic Paper Leak: Petitioners argued that the paper leak was not localized but indicative of a systemic issue, necessitating a re-examination to uphold the exam’s integrity.
- Impact on Students and Academic Schedule: The Court had to consider the broader implications of ordering a re-examination, including disruptions to the academic schedule and the potential cascading effects on medical education and healthcare services.
Arguments from Both Sides
Petitioners’ Arguments:
- The petitioners, represented by Senior Advocates Narender Hooda, Sanjay Hegde, and Mathews Nedupmara, contended that the paper leak was systemic, compromising the entire exam.
- They referenced the precedent set in Tanvi Sarwal v. CBSE (2015), where the Court had ordered a re-test in similar circumstances, arguing that a re-examination was the only course of action to ensure fairness.
- Emphasized that the structural deficiencies in the exam’s modalities made it vulnerable to such malpractices.
Union Government and NTA’s Arguments:
- Represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Senior Advocate Naresh Kaushik, the Union and NTA maintained that the leak was localized and identifiable.
- Cited a data analytics report from IIT Madras indicating no abnormalities in the results, suggesting that the leak did not compromise the exam’s overall integrity.
- Argued that a re-examination would severely disrupt the academic schedule, adversely affecting over 2 million students and the future availability of medical professionals.
Court’s Judgment
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra delivered the verdict, refusing to cancel the NEET-UG 2024 exam. The key points from the judgment are:
- No Systemic Breach: The Court found no material evidence indicating a systemic leak that would vitiate the exam results. The localized nature of the leak, involving 155 students, did not warrant a re-test.
- Practical Consequences: Emphasized the serious consequences of ordering a re-examination, including academic disruption and potential negative impacts on marginalized student groups.
- Segregating Tainted from Untainted: The Court stressed the importance of distinguishing between affected and unaffected candidates, allowing the exam results to stand for those not involved in the malpractice.
- Re-tally of Results: Directed the NTA to re-tally the results based on an expert report from IIT-Delhi, correcting an ambiguous question where two options were initially marked correct.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court’s decision in Vanshika Yadav vs. Union of India and Ors. underscores the judiciary’s nuanced approach in handling cases involving large-scale examinations. Balancing the need to uphold exam integrity with the practical implications for millions of students, the Court opted against a re-examination. The case highlights the complexities in ensuring fairness in competitive exams while considering the broader impacts on the academic and professional future of students.
Current Status – NEET-UG 2024 Paper Leak Case
While the Supreme Court has delivered its judgment, the investigation by the CBI is ongoing. If further evidence emerges implicating a broader network of beneficiaries, additional actions may be taken. The Court’s decision to not cancel the NEET-UG 2024 exam stands, but future developments could arise based on the investigation’s findings.
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