New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday sought responses from the Centre, the National Testing Agency (NTA) and others on the petitions, including those seeking scrapping of the NEET-UG 2024 exam and a court-monitored probe into the alleged irregularities. in medical examinations. Admission Test.
The top court also stayed proceedings on some allegations regarding National Eligibility and Entrance Examination (Undergraduate)-2024 pending before different high courts of the country.
A vacation bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti issued notices to the parties seeking their responses on four separate pleas filed by the NTA seeking transfer of some pending petitions, including those related to an alleged paper leak, from the courts superiors to the high court.When the court issued notices on the NTA petitions, the lawyer appearing for the agency urged that proceedings in these matters be stayed before the high court.
"Issue notice, returnable on July 8," the court said, adding, "In the meantime, further proceedings before the high courts remain suspended."
It also dealt with several other petitions, including one filed by 20 students who had appeared for the medical entrance test and seeking the cancellation of the exam that was held on May 5. They have also sought instructions from the NTA and others to perform the test again.
The court, which issued notices to the Centre, NTA and others seeking responses to these petitions, said the petitions would be heard on July 8 along with other pending matters related to NEET-UG 2024.
During the hearing, the court made it clear that it would not suspend the counseling process. "All this has been argued from day one and they (some petitioners) have requested suspension of the counseling. We have denied it," the court observed. "Ultimately, if all of you succeed, everything will be fine. The exam will be held and the counseling will be held as well."
A lawyer who represented one of the petitioners said that counseling may be postponed until after July 8.
The court asked the NTA's lawyer about the advice. "The counseling will start on July 6, but it will not end on July 6. It will take time," said the NTA lawyer. Another lawyer informed the court that a person had been arrested in Bihar in connection with the investigation into alleged irregularities in the exam.
The lawyer said FIRs have been lodged in Bihar and Gujarat regarding the alleged irregularities and the police should be asked to provide a report on the status of investigation of him in this matter.
During the hearing, the court observed that the petitioners in the matter were raising similar arguments. The Centre's lawyer said that many times the coaching institutes have also come as petitioners.
"They have a right to come. Because their business is... these students only and if you play with them and interfere with their rights, then these coaching centers will come," the court observed.
While hearing separate pleas related to the NEET (undergraduate)-2024 exam, the top court had on June 18 said that even if there was "0.001 per cent negligence" on the part of anyone in conducting the exam, it should be dealt with thoroughly. .NTA conducts the pre-medical entrance test all over India.
While hearing separate petitions raising complaints about the NEET-UG 2024, the top court had last week sought responses from the Center and the NTA on a plea for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into allegations of question paper leak and other irregularities in the exam.
On June 13, the Center and the NTA told the high court that they had canceled the grace marks given to 1,563 candidates who took the MBBS entrance exam and other similar courses. They will have the option of retaking the exam or foregoing the compensatory marks given to them for the loss of time, the Center said.
The exam was held on May 5 at 4,750 centers and was taken by around 24 lakh candidates. The results were expected to be declared on June 14, but were announced on June 4, apparently because the evaluation of answer sheets was completed earlier.
There have been allegations of question paper leaks in states like Bihar and other irregularities in the prestigious exam. The allegations have led to protests in several cities and filing of petitions in several high courts and also the Supreme Court. Dozens of students protested in Delhi on June 10 seeking an investigation into alleged irregularities.
As many as 67 students scored a perfect score of 720, unprecedented in the history of the NTA, and six from a center in Haryana's Faridabad figure in the list, raising suspicions of irregularities. It has been alleged that grace marks contributed to 67 students sharing the top position.
The NTA conducts the NEET-UG exam for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.
The top court also stayed proceedings on some allegations regarding National Eligibility and Entrance Examination (Undergraduate)-2024 pending before different high courts of the country.
A vacation bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti issued notices to the parties seeking their responses on four separate pleas filed by the NTA seeking transfer of some pending petitions, including those related to an alleged paper leak, from the courts superiors to the high court.When the court issued notices on the NTA petitions, the lawyer appearing for the agency urged that proceedings in these matters be stayed before the high court.
"Issue notice, returnable on July 8," the court said, adding, "In the meantime, further proceedings before the high courts remain suspended."
It also dealt with several other petitions, including one filed by 20 students who had appeared for the medical entrance test and seeking the cancellation of the exam that was held on May 5. They have also sought instructions from the NTA and others to perform the test again.
The court, which issued notices to the Centre, NTA and others seeking responses to these petitions, said the petitions would be heard on July 8 along with other pending matters related to NEET-UG 2024.
During the hearing, the court made it clear that it would not suspend the counseling process. "All this has been argued from day one and they (some petitioners) have requested suspension of the counseling. We have denied it," the court observed. "Ultimately, if all of you succeed, everything will be fine. The exam will be held and the counseling will be held as well."
A lawyer who represented one of the petitioners said that counseling may be postponed until after July 8.
The court asked the NTA's lawyer about the advice. "The counseling will start on July 6, but it will not end on July 6. It will take time," said the NTA lawyer. Another lawyer informed the court that a person had been arrested in Bihar in connection with the investigation into alleged irregularities in the exam.
The lawyer said FIRs have been lodged in Bihar and Gujarat regarding the alleged irregularities and the police should be asked to provide a report on the status of investigation of him in this matter.
During the hearing, the court observed that the petitioners in the matter were raising similar arguments. The Centre's lawyer said that many times the coaching institutes have also come as petitioners.
"They have a right to come. Because their business is... these students only and if you play with them and interfere with their rights, then these coaching centers will come," the court observed.
While hearing separate pleas related to the NEET (undergraduate)-2024 exam, the top court had on June 18 said that even if there was "0.001 per cent negligence" on the part of anyone in conducting the exam, it should be dealt with thoroughly. .NTA conducts the pre-medical entrance test all over India.
While hearing separate petitions raising complaints about the NEET-UG 2024, the top court had last week sought responses from the Center and the NTA on a plea for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into allegations of question paper leak and other irregularities in the exam.
On June 13, the Center and the NTA told the high court that they had canceled the grace marks given to 1,563 candidates who took the MBBS entrance exam and other similar courses. They will have the option of retaking the exam or foregoing the compensatory marks given to them for the loss of time, the Center said.
The exam was held on May 5 at 4,750 centers and was taken by around 24 lakh candidates. The results were expected to be declared on June 14, but were announced on June 4, apparently because the evaluation of answer sheets was completed earlier.
There have been allegations of question paper leaks in states like Bihar and other irregularities in the prestigious exam. The allegations have led to protests in several cities and filing of petitions in several high courts and also the Supreme Court. Dozens of students protested in Delhi on June 10 seeking an investigation into alleged irregularities.
As many as 67 students scored a perfect score of 720, unprecedented in the history of the NTA, and six from a center in Haryana's Faridabad figure in the list, raising suspicions of irregularities. It has been alleged that grace marks contributed to 67 students sharing the top position.
The NTA conducts the NEET-UG exam for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.
