NEET-UG 2024 Case Hearing Deferred By SC, Now Slated For July 18

The Supreme Court today postponed the hearing of pleas related to alleged paper leaks and irregularities in the National Eligibility Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2024 to July 18.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, leading a three-judge bench, noted that some parties had not received the affidavits filed by the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA), necessitating more time to review the responses before proceeding with arguments.

The postponement follows a compliance with the Supreme Court's July 8 order, where both the Centre and NTA submitted affidavits. The Centre's affidavit opposes the demand for a re-test and includes a comprehensive report from IIT-Madras, which refutes allegations of widespread malpractice or undue benefits to certain candidates.

The report indicates no signs of "mass malpractice" or localised irregularities leading to abnormal scores in NEET-UG 2024.

The NTA's affidavit stated that only 47 candidates are suspected of involvement in paper leaks and irregularities related to OMR sheets.

The NTA is also considering switching the examination mode from OMR (pen and paper) to online tests.

The controversy surrounding the NEET-UG 2024 exam, held on May 5, includes allegations of paper leaks and some students receiving grace marks.

The CBI, which is investigating the case, has arrested eight suspects so far.