Supreme Court Slams NTA for NEET-UG 2024 Lapses
The Supreme Court has rejected the pleas to cancel the NEET-UG 2024 test, highlighting several lapses on the part of the National Testing Agency (NTA) in conducting the exam. While the Court stated that these issues did not compromise the integrity of the entire examination, it emphasized the need for the NTA to be more vigilant in the future. The Court’s judgment, authored by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, outlines these concerns under the heading “The conduct of NTA: Cause for concern.”
Security Lapses and Paper Leak Incidents
The Court pointed out that the exam papers were leaked in Patna and Hazaribagh. In one center, unauthorized individuals accessed the question papers through the rear door of the strongroom. Additionally, there were instances where question papers were transported using e-rickshaws and private courier services, raising significant security concerns.
Lack of Timely Sealing of OMR Papers and Oversight of Invigilators
Senior Advocate Narendra Hooda, representing the petitioners, highlighted that the NTA did not specify a time for sealing the OMR sheets. This omission risks tampering with the OMR sheets after the candidates have left the exam hall. Furthermore, the NTA relies on private invigilators over whom it has no direct oversight, increasing the potential for malpractice. The Court recommended that the NTA implement more stringent security protocols and better oversight of invigilators.
Distribution of Incorrect Question Papers
The Court noted that two sets of question papers for the NEET-UG exam were stored at the State Bank of India (SBI) and Canara Bank branches. The set kept at SBI was meant to be distributed to candidates. However, the wrong set from Canara Bank was distributed at twelve centers. This error was attributed to either the irresponsibility of the city coordinators or miscommunication. The Court advised the NTA to plan protocols carefully to prevent such mistakes in the future.
Controversy Over Ambiguous Questions and Grace Marks
The NTA’s decision to award grace marks for an ambiguous question was also scrutinized. Initially, the NTA treated two answers as correct, leading to 44 students scoring full marks. However, an expert panel from IIT-Delhi later clarified that only one answer was correct, prompting the Court to direct the NTA to revise the results. The Court emphasized the need for a reliable system that ensures fairness without external intervention.
Inconsistent Decision-Making on Compensatory Marks
The Court criticized the NTA for its inconsistent handling of compensatory marks for 1563 candidates. Initially, a committee recommended awarding these marks, but a subsequent committee advised conducting a re-exam. The Court stressed that the NTA must avoid such “flip-flops” and make well-considered decisions, given its responsibility for critical competitive exams.
Court’s Directive to the NTA
In conclusion, the Court directed the NTA to address all the concerns highlighted in the judgment and requested that the committee constituted by the Union Government consider these issues when formulating its recommendations.