Candidates petition SC for fresh NEET-UG 2024 exam amid paper leak allegations

A group of NEET-UG 2024 candidates has approached the Supreme Court (SC), requesting a fresh exam due to alleged malpractices in the May 5 test. The petitioners, led by Shivangi Mishra, assert that the exam was compromised by paper leaks, undermining its integrity. They argue that these leaks violate Article 14 of the Constitution, which ensures the right to equality, as some candidates gained an unfair advantage.

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG), conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), is essential for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other related courses in both government and private institutes across India. The results are expected on June 14.

Filed on June 1 through lawyer Usha Nandini V, the plea implicates the NTA and emphasises the need to maintain the sanctity of the examination. It highlights that the paper leaks provide an undue advantage to certain candidates over those who took the exam fairly.

News reports and instances of the paper leak have been cited as evidence by the petitioners, who insist that the current situation necessitates a new examination. They contend that without a fresh test, the credibility of the NEET-UG and the principle of fair competition will be severely compromised.

The petition is likely to be heard by a vacation bench of the SC this week. This development has intensified discussions around the need for stringent measures to ensure the integrity of national-level examinations. The outcome of this plea could have significant implications for the future conduct of NEET-UG and similar exams in India.