The Supreme Court has directed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to publish the centre-wise results of the NEET-UG 2024 exam on their website by Saturday noon. The results must be published while masking the identity of the candidates.
Key Highlights
Order by Supreme Court: A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, instructed the NTA to ensure the identity of the students is concealed when releasing the results. “We direct the NTA to publish the marks obtained by students in the NEET-UG 2024 exam while at the same time ensuring that the identity of the students is masked… The results should be declared in relation to each centre separately,” stated the bench.
Context of the Order: The Supreme Court’s decision comes amidst petitions seeking and opposing demands for a retest of the NEET-UG 2024 exams due to allegations of a question paper leak and other irregularities.
Government’s Stance: Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, expressed concerns about publishing results centre-wise, citing issues related to coaching centres. However, the bench, also comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, decided to proceed with the centre-wise publication. “No…let it be done. We have to see the end of the matter by Monday,” the CJI said, scheduling the next hearing for July 22.
Concerns About Question Paper Leak: CJI Chandrachud acknowledged that there was a leak in at least Patna and Hazaribagh, where question papers were disseminated before the exam. The court aims to determine if the leak was confined to these centres or if it was more widespread. “The question which we are now wanting to consider is whether this was confined to only these two centres, in which case there is no question of a retest, or whether this was more widespread,” CJI Chandrachud added.
Need for Data Transparency: The court emphasized the importance of transparency in understanding the extent of the issue. “Students have a certain degree of handicap because they would never have the kind of data which is necessary to prove,” said the CJI. He further noted that the centre-wise publication of results would help ascertain any irregular patterns in marks, which could aid the investigation.
Protecting Student Identities: Addressing the Solicitor General’s concerns about coaching centres, CJI Chandrachud assured that masking student identities would prevent them from being approached inappropriately. “Therefore we are saying we want the identity of students to be masked. We don’t want students to be approached….But let’s see centre-wise what was the mark pattern,” he stated.
The Supreme Court’s directive aims to ensure a fair and transparent review of the NEET-UG 2024 exam results while safeguarding the interests and identities of the candidates. The outcome of this exercise will play a crucial role in determining whether the alleged irregularities warrant a retest or if the issue was isolated to specific centres. The next hearing is set for July 22, by which time the court hopes to have a clearer picture based on the centre-wise results data.
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