The Supreme Court on Tuesday has declined request for a retest of the NEET-UG 2024 examination. The three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, concluded that there was insufficient evidence to suggest a widespread systemic leak of the question paper, thereby upholding the validity of the exam results.
Chief Justice Chandrachud emphasized, “At this stage, there is absence of material on record to lead to conclusion that result of the exam is vitiated or that there is a systemic breach of the sanctity of the exam.” The court’s ruling followed scrutiny of data presented by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and a report from IIT Madras, which indicated no mass-scale paper leak affecting the exam’s integrity.
The decision comes amidst allegations of localized question paper leaks in Hazaribagh and Patna, areas where the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) identified 155 students as direct beneficiaries. While acknowledging these incidents, the court noted that the ongoing CBI investigation has yet to conclude, emphasizing the need for finality before further actions can be taken.
Chief Justice Chandrachud also addressed concerns regarding a contentious question in the exam, citing an IIT Delhi report that clarified the correct answer option. The court directed the NTA to adjust the results accordingly based on the corrected option, ensuring fairness in evaluation.