The Supreme Court heard three petitions today (June 13) regarding the controversial NEET-UG 2024 medical entrance test for MBBS, BDS, and other courses.
The Centre informed the Supreme Court that a decision has been taken to cancel the score-cards of 1563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates who were given grace marks.
Centre said that these 1,563 students will be given an option to take a re-test.
Those who don't wish to sit for re-exam, their actual marks will be taken into consideration.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said there is no corruption in connection with the NEET examination. "24 lakh students appear in the examination.
The government is ready to give answers to the Court. This specific issue is being taken into consideration and a committee of academicians has been formed.
"The government will present this in front of the Court. NTA conducts 3 major examinations that is NEET, JEE and CUET successfully in the country...We will take action against the people responsible...," he said.
"The court has considered the issue of grace marks stating that all the students (who got grace marks) can appear for re-examination. For other issues, the honourable court has said that matter will be taken on July 8 and those issues can be heard and decided on the same day," said Shwetank Sailakwal, advocate of the petitioner, on the Supreme Court hearing over the NEET row.
Key takeaways from the NEET exam case hearing:
Advocate Kanu Agarwal, representing the Union Government, informed a vacation bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that the decision to cancel the grace marks for 1,563 students was made by a panel constituted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on June 12.
The panel aimed to "allay the fears of the students" and concluded that awarding compensatory marks due to loss of time had created a "skewed situation" since the grace marks were only meant for unattempted questions.
After thorough examination, the committee recommended cancelling the scorecards of these students and informing them of their actual marks without the grace marks.
The court considered three petitions related to the NEET-UG 2024 results, focusing on claims of widespread irregularities and the controversial award of grace marks to over 1,500 candidates due to "loss of time."
The petitioner, a participant in NEET-UG 2024, had voiced concerns over the allocation of compensatory marks to 1,563 candidates.
These marks were given to those who were allowed less than the standard 3 hours and 20 minutes at their examination centres.
The Grievance Redressal Committee recommended the compensatory marks, referencing a judgment by this Court in the case of Disha Panchal vs. Union of India and others.
The Court noted the statement by Senior Advocate Naresh Kaushik, representing the NTA, that the re-test will be announced today and is expected to take place on June 23.
The results of this re-test will be released before June 30, ensuring that the counselling scheduled for July 6 can proceed as planned.
One petition was filed by Alakh Pandey, CEO of the EdTech firm Physics Wallah, challenging the alleged arbitrary awarding of grace marks by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to over 1,500 candidates.
In his plea, Pandey requested that the apex court establish an expert panel under its supervision to "enquire into the examination process and results of NEET (UG) 2024."
Pandey presented evidence from around 20,000 students indicating that 70-80 marks were randomly awarded as grace marks to at least 1,500 students.
Advocate J Sai Deepak represented Pandey. The Court concluded the issue of grace marks in this petition but left other concerns pending.
A second petition, filed by SIO members Abdullah Mohammed Faiz and Dr. Shaik Roshan Mohiddin, called for the NEET-UG 2024 results to be annulled and a new exam conducted due to alleged paper leaks and other malpractices.
This petition was acknowledged today, with Advocate Shwetank Sailakwal and Advocate Mayank Suryan representing the petitioners.
The third petition, brought by NEET candidate Jaripiti Kartheek, challenged the grace marks awarded for lost time during the exam. Kartheek argued that the “normalization formula” should only apply to the number of questions left unanswered due to the lost time, as each question carries equal weight.
This petition was also dismissed today, with Advocate Yelamanjula Balaji representing the petitioner.
Earlier, on June 11, the Supreme Court had issued a notice regarding another petition filed before the declaration of the NEET-UG results on June 4, seeking to cancel the test over alleged paper leaks. The Court requested a response from the NTA by July 8 while refusing to halt the counselling process, noting the potential impact on the exam’s integrity.
NEET UG Exam 2024 Case Background
This year, a record 67 students achieved a perfect score of 720.
Haryana's Faridabad drew attention due to suspicions of irregularities, as six candidates from a single centre were among those who scored the perfect 720.
Students having been staging protests outside the Education Ministry in Delhi, seeking solutions after 67 candidates secured the top all-India rank in NEET UG 2024 results.
On June 11. the SC said the 'sanctity of exam has been affected' on grounds of 'paper leak' and other 'malpractices'.
The top court, however, refused to stay the counselling process for admissions in MBBS, and other courses for successful candidates.
NEET-UG, 2024 was held on May 5 and its results were declared on June 4. It was expected to be declared on June 14.
The NTA conducts the NEET-UG examination for admissions to MBBS, BDS and AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.
The top court tagged the plea filed by Shivangi Mishra and others with the pending one. The plea alleged that NEET-UG, 2024, was riddled with malpractices as various instances of paper leaks have come to the knowledge of the petitioners.
The alleged paper leak was violative of Article 14 (right to equality) under the Constitution as it gave an undue advantage to some candidates over others who chose to attempt the examination in a fair manner, it said.
On June 8, the NTA and the Union Education Ministry announced the formation of a four-member committee to review the results of the candidates who received grace marks to compensate for lost time during the NEET-UG 2024 exam.
The Centre informed the Supreme Court that a decision has been taken to cancel the score-cards of 1563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates who were given grace marks.
Centre said that these 1,563 students will be given an option to take a re-test.
Those who don't wish to sit for re-exam, their actual marks will be taken into consideration.
#BREAKING Centre tells Supreme Court that a decision has been taken to cancel the score-cards of 1563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates who were given grace marks. Centre adds that these 1563 students will be given an option to take a re-test.#NEETUG2024
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) June 13, 2024
Meanwhile, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said there is no corruption in connection with the NEET examination. "24 lakh students appear in the examination.
The government is ready to give answers to the Court. This specific issue is being taken into consideration and a committee of academicians has been formed.
"The government will present this in front of the Court. NTA conducts 3 major examinations that is NEET, JEE and CUET successfully in the country...We will take action against the people responsible...," he said.
#WATCH | On the Supreme Court's hearing on the NEET-UG 2024 exam, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan says "There is no corruption. In connection with the NEET examination, 24 lakh students appear in the examination. A hearing in the Supreme Court is underway today and this… pic.twitter.com/xpS9v55ptY
— ANI (@ANI) June 13, 2024
"The court has considered the issue of grace marks stating that all the students (who got grace marks) can appear for re-examination. For other issues, the honourable court has said that matter will be taken on July 8 and those issues can be heard and decided on the same day," said Shwetank Sailakwal, advocate of the petitioner, on the Supreme Court hearing over the NEET row.
VIDEO | NEET-UG Row: "The private agency hired to conduct the exam and declare the results should be removed at any cost. We will raise the issue in the House (Lok Sabha) and demand a JPC," says Independent MP Pappu Yadav (@pappuyadavjapl)
(Full video available on PTI Videos -… pic.twitter.com/53ylJNxZxS
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 13, 2024
Key takeaways from the NEET exam case hearing:
- The grace marks awarded to 1,563 candidates for NEET UG 2024 exams have been cancelled.
- The candidates will be given the option to take a reexam for NEET UG 2024.
- Candidates who do not wish to take the NEET 2024 re-test can opt to go with the marks received in the exam before the award of the grace marks.
- The NEET 2024 reexam date will be notified today and reexam is likely to be conducted on June 23.
- The results of the retest are also expected to be released within a week by June 30.
Advocate Kanu Agarwal, representing the Union Government, informed a vacation bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that the decision to cancel the grace marks for 1,563 students was made by a panel constituted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on June 12.
The panel aimed to "allay the fears of the students" and concluded that awarding compensatory marks due to loss of time had created a "skewed situation" since the grace marks were only meant for unattempted questions.
After thorough examination, the committee recommended cancelling the scorecards of these students and informing them of their actual marks without the grace marks.
The court considered three petitions related to the NEET-UG 2024 results, focusing on claims of widespread irregularities and the controversial award of grace marks to over 1,500 candidates due to "loss of time."
The petitioner, a participant in NEET-UG 2024, had voiced concerns over the allocation of compensatory marks to 1,563 candidates.
These marks were given to those who were allowed less than the standard 3 hours and 20 minutes at their examination centres.
The Grievance Redressal Committee recommended the compensatory marks, referencing a judgment by this Court in the case of Disha Panchal vs. Union of India and others.
The Court noted the statement by Senior Advocate Naresh Kaushik, representing the NTA, that the re-test will be announced today and is expected to take place on June 23.
The results of this re-test will be released before June 30, ensuring that the counselling scheduled for July 6 can proceed as planned.
NEET UG 2024 HEARING KEY TAKEAWAYS-2024
Petitioners for the NEET 2024 exam case hearing:
One petition was filed by Alakh Pandey, CEO of the EdTech firm Physics Wallah, challenging the alleged arbitrary awarding of grace marks by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to over 1,500 candidates.
In his plea, Pandey requested that the apex court establish an expert panel under its supervision to "enquire into the examination process and results of NEET (UG) 2024."
Pandey presented evidence from around 20,000 students indicating that 70-80 marks were randomly awarded as grace marks to at least 1,500 students.
Advocate J Sai Deepak represented Pandey. The Court concluded the issue of grace marks in this petition but left other concerns pending.
#WATCH | On the Supreme Court's hearing on the NEET-UG 2024 exam, Alakh Pandey, petitioner and CEO of Physics Wallah says, "Today, NTA accepted in front of the Supreme Court that the grace marks given to the students were wrong and they agree that this created dissatisfaction… pic.twitter.com/lNf8Fm2rsz
— ANI (@ANI) June 13, 2024
A second petition, filed by SIO members Abdullah Mohammed Faiz and Dr. Shaik Roshan Mohiddin, called for the NEET-UG 2024 results to be annulled and a new exam conducted due to alleged paper leaks and other malpractices.
This petition was acknowledged today, with Advocate Shwetank Sailakwal and Advocate Mayank Suryan representing the petitioners.
The third petition, brought by NEET candidate Jaripiti Kartheek, challenged the grace marks awarded for lost time during the exam. Kartheek argued that the “normalization formula” should only apply to the number of questions left unanswered due to the lost time, as each question carries equal weight.
This petition was also dismissed today, with Advocate Yelamanjula Balaji representing the petitioner.
Earlier, on June 11, the Supreme Court had issued a notice regarding another petition filed before the declaration of the NEET-UG results on June 4, seeking to cancel the test over alleged paper leaks. The Court requested a response from the NTA by July 8 while refusing to halt the counselling process, noting the potential impact on the exam’s integrity.
NEET UG Exam 2024 Case Background
This year, a record 67 students achieved a perfect score of 720.
Haryana's Faridabad drew attention due to suspicions of irregularities, as six candidates from a single centre were among those who scored the perfect 720.
Students having been staging protests outside the Education Ministry in Delhi, seeking solutions after 67 candidates secured the top all-India rank in NEET UG 2024 results.
On June 11. the SC said the 'sanctity of exam has been affected' on grounds of 'paper leak' and other 'malpractices'.
The top court, however, refused to stay the counselling process for admissions in MBBS, and other courses for successful candidates.
NEET-UG, 2024 was held on May 5 and its results were declared on June 4. It was expected to be declared on June 14.
The NTA conducts the NEET-UG examination for admissions to MBBS, BDS and AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.
The top court tagged the plea filed by Shivangi Mishra and others with the pending one. The plea alleged that NEET-UG, 2024, was riddled with malpractices as various instances of paper leaks have come to the knowledge of the petitioners.
The alleged paper leak was violative of Article 14 (right to equality) under the Constitution as it gave an undue advantage to some candidates over others who chose to attempt the examination in a fair manner, it said.
On June 8, the NTA and the Union Education Ministry announced the formation of a four-member committee to review the results of the candidates who received grace marks to compensate for lost time during the NEET-UG 2024 exam.
First Published: Jun 13, 2024 10:57 AM IST
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