Supreme Court Denies NEET-UG Re-Test, Citing No Systemic Breach

New Delhi:

In a pivotal decision, the Supreme Court has ruled against conducting a re-test for the 2024 NEET-UG exam. The court concluded there was no evidence of a systemic breach that would undermine the integrity of the examination, despite acknowledging localized leaks of the question paper.

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, heading the bench, stated that while it is undisputed that the question paper was leaked at two specific centers, there was insufficient data to prove that this leak affected the overall exam results or compromised its sanctity. The court noted that a re-test for the approximately 23.33 lakh candidates would have significant ramifications, including disruptions to the admission schedule and educational progress.

The court had previously suggested that a re-test would be a last resort and had pointed to the limited time gap between the leaks and the exam as a factor against such an action. The Chief Justice highlighted concerns about the potential negative impact on students, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, if a re-test were ordered.

The decision follows reports from the CBI, which indicated that 155 students from Hazaribagh and Patna were linked to the leak. However, the court found no compelling reason to invalidate the entire examination process, choosing instead to uphold the results as they stand.