NEET UG 2024 SC Hearing Live Updates: Supreme Court Rules Out NEET-UG 2024 Re-Test, Cancellation

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court dismissed petitions calling for the cancellation and re-conduct of the NEET-UG 2024 exam. The court found no substantial evidence indicating a systemic issue with the exam results. It noted the paper leak incidents in Hazaribagh and Patna but ruled that ordering a re-test would impact the academic schedules of millions.

The Supreme Court has ruled that there is no systemic breach in the NEET-UG 2024 examination, which took place on May 5. The court acknowledged the leak of the question paper in Hazaribagh and Patna but determined that the results were not vitiated. The court declined to order a re-exam, citing potential disruptions for over 23 lakh students.

The Supreme Court has decided against canceling the NEET-UG 2024 examination held on May 5. The court found no evidence of a systemic breach affecting the exam's results, despite acknowledging that the paper was leaked in Hazaribagh and Patna. The court emphasized that a re-exam would disrupt the academic schedule for over 23 lakh students.

In a crucial decision, the Supreme Court has ruled out the possibility of a re-exam for NEET-UG 2024, despite recognizing that the question paper was leaked in Hazaribagh and Patna. The court found no systemic breach that would affect the integrity of the exam results, emphasizing the need for stability for over 23 lakh students.

Leak Confirmed at Two Locations: The Supreme Court confirmed that the NEET UG 2024 paper leak occurred at Patna and Hazaribagh.

CBI Investigation to Proceed: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will continue its investigation into the paper leaks to uncover further details.

Ongoing Admissions and Guidelines: The Court has allowed counselling and other admission processes to continue as scheduled. It has also indicated that guidelines will be provided for the future conduct of examinations to address and prevent similar issues.

The Chief Justice of India noted the formation of a seven-member expert committee by the Union to strengthen the NEET UG examination process and prevent future issues. The Court has disposed of the transfer pleas by the NTA and directed the committee to follow any further directions issued by the Court.

The Chief Justice of India directed the NTA to address the special test conducted for 1,563 candidates, who were given the choice to either retake the test or forgo grace marks. The Court emphasized the importance of the exam's sanctity and clarified that individual grievances not covered by this judgment should be addressed in High Courts under Article 226, with petitioners needing to withdraw their current petitions before the Supreme Court.

The Chief Justice of India (CJI) confirmed that following IIT Delhi's expert determination, option 4 is affirmed as the correct answer for the questioned item in the NEET UG exam. The NTA will re-tally results based on this finding. The question number was not disclosed to maintain procedural integrity.

The Chief Justice of India (CJI) revealed that after initial confusion where both options 2 and 4 were considered correct, IIT Delhi's expert committee has concluded that option 4 is the correct answer. This decision clarifies any ambiguity, affirming option 4 as the definitive answer to the questioned item.

The Chief Justice of India (CJI) stated that canceling the entire NEET UG 2024 exam is not justified based on established legal principles and the evidence available. The Supreme Court emphasized that there is insufficient basis for such a drastic measure given the current circumstances.

The Supreme Court has ruled against canceling or conducting a re-exam for NEET-UG, stating that there is insufficient justification based on established principles. The Court acknowledged the challenges presented but emphasized that the data does not support a systemic breach or disruption of the exam's integrity that would necessitate a re-examination.

The Supreme Court has ruled against conducting a re-examination of NEET UG, stating that the current data does not support claims of systemic issues affecting the exam's integrity.

The CJI noted that since the CBI investigation is ongoing, the Court has asked the Union government to analyze trends and abnormalities from results across 4,750 centers in 571 cities. The government has provided a report from IIT Madras as directed.

CJI observed that the available data does not suggest a systemic leak of the NEET-UG question paper that would disrupt the exam's integrity.

CJI stated that there is no evidence indicating that the NEET-UG results are entirely compromised or that a systemic breach undermined the exam's integrity.

Leak Confirmation: The NEET UG 2024 paper leak at Hazaribagh (Jharkhand) and Patna is confirmed and undisputed.
CBI Status Reports: The CBI has filed status reports dated July 10, July 17, and July 21, 2024, following the transfer of the investigation.
Further Details Pending: Detailed reasons for the conclusions will be provided later.

Arguments have been concluded and judgment has been reserved. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud emphasized the need for certainty and finality in the dispute, which impacts the careers of over 2 million students.

Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud stated that the court, through an interim order, called for affidavit disclosures from the NTA, Union, and CBI, due to FIRs in multiple states being transferred to the CBI. Arguments have been heard over four days, including testimony from Mr. Krishna, Additional Director CBI.

CJI Chandrachud stated that petitioners argued the NEET UG exam leak was systemic and, along with structural deficiencies, necessitates a retest as the only viable solution.

Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud highlighted that 24 lakh students are vying for 1,08,000 seats in NEET UG. The exam comprises 180 questions totaling 720 marks, with one negative mark for each incorrect answer. The 50th percentile is used as the cutoff benchmark.

Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud stated that the primary issue in this batch of cases is the demand for a re-test of the NEET UG exam due to alleged question paper leaks and systemic deficiencies. The NEET UG exam was conducted at 4,750 centers across 571 cities in India and 14 cities overseas.

Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud began dictating the order, noting that the NEET exam was conducted on May 5, with the results declared on June 4. The judgment in the NEET UG irregularities case is expected to be announced shortly.

The judges have returned after a short break to continue the proceedings in the NEET UG irregularities case. The judgment is anticipated to be announced shortly, following final deliberations. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud previously indicated the brief recess to finalize the decision.

The judgment in the NEET UG irregularities case is likely to be announced shortly.

The judges have taken a break to deliberate on the upcoming judgment. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud announced, "We are rising. We will come back after 5 minutes." The session is paused as the judges discuss the details and implications of their decision.

Advocate Nedumpara concluded his remarks by expressing forgiveness to the court for the perceived humiliation he experienced. He conveyed that, despite the treatment he received, he forgives the court, indicating a resolution of his grievances.

Advocate Nedumpara argued for the cancellation of the NEET exam, emphasizing that the issue should be resolved by the government rather than the court. He criticized the court's involvement in administrative matters, suggesting that such issues are better handled by Parliament and the executive branch.

Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde highlighted a video from Oasis School indicating that the NEET paper leak occurred before the papers were sent to banks. He alleged that the leak, traced from Hazaribagh to Patna, was orchestrated by Sanjeev Mukhiya, a known figure in paper leaks.

Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde criticized the timeline of the NEET paper leak, arguing that if students had solved papers the night of May 4, the brief two-hour window for intervention is implausible. He stressed that adequate time is essential for successful preparation and passing.

Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde argued that if the NEET papers were leaked and photos sent by 9:30 AM, giving solvers until 10 AM to solve would be unrealistic. He questioned why parents would pay substantial amounts for such uncertain timing, calling the scenario implausible.

Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde detailed the CBI's account of the NEET paper leak, stating that it occurred between 8:02 and 9:26 AM on May 5. Pankaj Kumar reportedly took the papers from the trunk, photographed them, resealed the envelope, and delivered it to the solver by around 9:30 AM.

Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde referenced CBI's findings, stating that an organized mafia was involved in the NEET paper leak. According to the CBI, agents were dispatched three months in advance, offering to secure question papers and desired ranks for payment.

Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde challenged the assertion that only 155 students were involved in the NEET leak, emphasizing the need to consider whether the exam was conducted fairly and whether investigations were thorough. He argued against disrupting the exam for 24 lakh students based on current findings, stressing the importance of assessing the overall integrity and scope of the investigation.

The judges remain engaged in discussions as the time exceeds 4 PM.

Nedumpara apologized, expressing surprise at the ongoing discussions during the criminal trial. He emphasized that, given the paper leak, a re-test is the only fair solution despite potential inconveniences.

During the ongoing Supreme Court hearing on NEET UG 2024, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud that approximately 155 candidates benefited from the NEET paper leak.

Advocate Narendar Hooda questioned the use of an e-rickshaw for transporting question papers, while Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted a picture showing it was an OMR sheet. Hooda also referred to The Times of India reports based on CBI sources to support his concerns.

Advocate Narendar Hooda pointed out significant performance differences between exam centers, noting that while Kota and Sikar had similar numbers of candidates, the disparity in scores suggests inconsistencies. He implied that such discrepancies may be a recurring issue across centers.

Advocate Narendar Hooda raised concerns about the handling of exam papers in Bahadurgar, questioning why the SBI paper was withdrawn while the Canara Bank paper was allowed to proceed. He cited the principal's statement and NTA's instructions, suggesting that discrepancies in paper management were recorded and could be verified through video evidence.

Advocate Narendar Hooda argued that even if only 1,000 students were beneficiaries of the leak, a retest is necessary to restore integrity. He compared the NEET exam to a patient suffering from "multi-organ failure," emphasizing that the entire process has been compromised and must be addressed.

Advocate Narendar Hooda challenged the CBI's claim that the leak was confined to Patna and Hazaribagh, questioning the reliability of the investigation and potential undisclosed locations. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud noted that while the court cannot rule out the possibility of a wider leak based on current evidence, it must also consider that the investigation may uncover new details. The CJI emphasized the need to balance between immediate decisions and ongoing inquiries.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud warned lawyer Mr. Nedumpara to stop addressing the gallery and ordered security to remove him if necessary. Nedumpara insisted he was leaving, but the CJI emphasized his authority over court procedures and expressed frustration over lawyers dictating the court's conduct. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta labeled the behaviour as contemptuous.

Advocate Tanvi Dubey, representing the AIR Rank 1 student, argued that selecting option 4 instead of option 2 would reduce her score from 720 to 715, affecting her chances at top institutions like AIIMS Delhi. The Chief Justice of India (CJI) acknowledged that option 4 is the only correct answer but proposed a compromise: those who selected option 2 should not receive negative marks. He directed the discussion to include the NTA director for further consideration.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta emphasized that students following the NCERT curriculum should not be disadvantaged. Justice Manoj Mishra, a science student himself, stressed the importance of understanding fundamentals over rote learning. Mehta concluded that the issue would impact approximately 422,000 students. Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud indicated that the discussion about the IIT report from yesterday should be concluded.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta referred to a court judgment highlighting the investigation's finding that the exam paper was leaked and circulated across several states. However, the Supreme Court observed that the leaked Telegram photo did not match the official paper in terms of font, numbering, and other details.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta explained that the investigation pinpointed issues at only four locations, supported by the IIT report. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud acknowledged the report, while Justice Manoj Mishra inquired about forensic comparisons between the leaked Telegram paper and the official exam paper. Mehta admitted there was no forensic report, and discrepancies in font and numbering were noted between the leaked photo and the case diary.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta addressed the court, emphasizing that the accused's actions and their corroboration by the investigation are evident in the results. He highlighted that only two students scored significantly high marks of 573 and 581, likely due to their inherent capabilities. The remaining beneficiaries scored much lower, around 111 marks, indicating minimal widespread impact from the leak.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud emphasized the need for a prompt decision regarding a potential retest, stating that students should not be left in uncertainty. He stressed the importance of concluding the hearing promptly for institutional integrity. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured that his arguments would not exceed 20-25 minutes and noted that the number of beneficiaries from the leak would not exceed 155.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud questioned whether the problem solvers received the question paper at 8:30 am, instead of the 45 minutes previously thought. The CBI official clarified that the transfer occurred around 9:24 am, after exiting the control room. The CJI also noted the unavailability of mobile phones from the solver and a conspirator in Hazaribagh, with the CBI confirming the arrest of the recipient in Hazaribagh.

The Supreme Court hearing resumed after lunch, with discussions continuing on the issues surrounding the NEET UG exam. Key topics included discrepancies in paper distribution, security measures, and the timing of paper transfers. The court addressed concerns raised earlier and sought further clarification from the involved parties.