Highlighting the lapses of the National Testing Agency in conducting the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (undergraduate) examinations, the Supreme Court directed the Centre-appointed expert committee to develop a rigorous mechanism for conducting the test. The apex court which ordered against NEET re-examination pronounced detailed judgment on Friday.
Criticising the National Testing Agency, the bench observed the flip-flops of the agency weren’t serving students' interest. In the order, Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra highlighted the lapses of NTA. "We have said that the NTA must now avoid the flip-flops which it has made in this case. These flip-flops in the NTA does not serve the interest of the students," Live Law reported quoting CJI.
The bench directed the expert committee appointed by the Centre to formulate a rigorous mechanism to overcome security shortcomings while transporting the question papers for the examinations. The top court directed the committee to ensure rigorous checks in the exam process.
The union government, following the cancellation of multiple examinations, formed an expert panel to study the functioning of NTA and suggest changes. The committee is headed by former ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan.
The Supreme Court suggested the committee to review the process through which exam centres are allotted to candidates; the viability of CCTV monitoring at all centres; measures to enhance the process of printing and transportation of papers; viability of using closed vehicles with real-time locks rather than open e-rickshaws for transportation of question papers and enhanced identity checks to check impersonation, Live Law reported.
The Supreme Court ruled against NEET retest on July 23. While acknowledging localised leaks in Hazaribagh and Patna, the SC ruled out a systemic breach of the exam’s integrity, determining that these incidents did not compromise the overall fairness of the premier examination. Over 23 lakh students took the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) in 2024 for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses.