"NEET Paper Leak Driven by Profit, Not to Discredit Exam," Observes CJI Chandrachud; See the key-points from the hearing.

- NEET-UG Re-Test Only If Sanctity Lost on Large Scale: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of India, on Thursday morning, emphasized that a re-conduct of the 2024 NEET-UG exam, which serves as an entrance to undergraduate medical courses, would only be considered if it is proven that the exam's "sanctity" was compromised on a large scale due to leaked question papers. This was articulated as the Court heard over 40 petitions demanding a re-test.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, leading the bench, reiterated observations made last week, emphasizing that the exam’s integrity had been called into question. However, he advised petitioners that a re-test would only be justified under specific conditions that argue strongly against it.

Key Points from the Hearing:

1. Systematic Leak Proof System Required 

   The Court stated that petitioners must demonstrate that the leak was systematic and had a widespread impact on the examination to warrant a cancellation. "You have to show us that the leak was systematic... that it affected the entire examination... so as to warrant cancellation of the entire exam..." said CJI Chandrachud. He further noted that the sheer number of aspirants (23 lakh) versus the seats available (one lakh) makes it impractical to order a re-examination.

"NEET Paper Leak Driven by Profit, Not to Discredit Exam," Observes CJI Chandrachud; See the key-points from the hearing.

2. Direction for Investigation:

   The bench sought suggestions on the investigation's direction, stating, "Second, tell us what should be the direction of the investigation in this matter."

3. Data Analytics and Integrity:

   The petitioners argued that analyzing data for nearly 24 lakh students would obscure any potential irregularities. Senior advocate Narender Hooda highlighted the difficulty in detecting anomalies within such a large data set. The NTA, in its defense, submitted an analysis by IIT Madras indicating a normal mark distribution and attributing a general increase in marks to a 25% reduction in the syllabus.

4. Controversy and High Scores:

   Controversy over the NEET-UG 2024 arose following allegations of question paper leaks orchestrated by a national 'solver gang' network. The unusually high number of perfect scores, with 67 students achieving a maximum of 720 marks, and the allocation of grace marks to 1,563 students fueled suspicion.

5. Top Performers and Geographical Distribution:

   The NTA provided a list of the top 100 ranks, showing a spread across various cities, with the highest number from Bengaluru. Mr. Hooda questioned anomalies in the data, but the NTA argued that the distribution demonstrated no abnormal spikes in any specific center.

NTA's Position and Court's Response:

The NTA sought to transfer cases filed by various state police forces to their respective High Courts to avoid duplication and confusion. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the NTA, countered claims of a conflict of interest involving the NTA's governing body and IIT Madras, clarifying their roles.

The Court acknowledged the difficulty in identifying and segregating students who may have conspired to access questions in advance. It remains cautious about ordering a re-test, emphasizing that substantial proof of a widespread impact on the exam’s integrity is required.

The Supreme Court's deliberations continue as it seeks to balance the interests of nearly 24 lakh students and maintain the credibility of the NEET-UG examination process.