New Delhi.  NEET-UG 2024: The Supreme Court on Monday heard several petitions seeking re-conduct of the NEET-UG exam for admission to medical colleges due to alleged irregularities. The Supreme Court on Monday advised caution while hearing the petitions seeking re-conduct of the NEET-UG exam.

Supreme Court accepted that the paper has been leaked

The apex court said that it appears that the paper was leaked, but some facts are needed to decide whether the irregularities were large-scale or limited to some places. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said, "In such a situation, where the sanctity of the examination has been affected by the breach of the sanctity, and it is not possible to separate those who have benefited from the irregularities from others, then it may be necessary to order a re-examination."

It is known that the results of this examination released last month were spoiled due to the leaked paper and the 'grace marks' given to 1,563 students. The court said that some situations, especially if the 'time gap between the leak and the exam is limited', could argue against the re-examination. The court said, "If the students were asked to memorize (the leaked questions) on the morning of the exam, the leak would not have been so widespread."

'Sanctity of examination was 'violated''

A three-judge bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud said it is therefore not fair to order a re-examination for nearly 24 lakh students, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, who may have to bear the costs associated with travelling to exam centres - unless absolutely necessary. The three-judge bench said that conducting a re-examination is the 'last resort'. The Supreme Court noted that the sanctity of the exam has been 'violated'.

NEET-UG Exam 2024 case: What has happened so far?

• May 5 – NEET-UG 2024 exam was held at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 foreign cities.
• May 17: Supreme Court seeks response from Centre and NTA on a plea alleging irregularities in the exam.
• June 4 – NEET-UG 2024 result was declared, in which 67 candidates secured top ranks.
• June 11: The Supreme Court, observing that the sanctity of NEET-UG 2024 has been compromised, seeks response of the Centre and NTA on a plea for a fresh exam due to alleged question paper leak and other irregularities.
• June 13 - The Centre informed the Supreme Court that it has cancelled the grace marks given to 1,563 NEET-UG candidates. It said these candidates can either appear for the exam again or forgo compensation marks.
• June 14: Supreme Court seeks response from the Centre and exam agency on a plea seeking a CBI probe into alleged question paper leak and other irregularities in the exam.
• June 18- The Supreme Court said that even "0.001 per cent negligence" in the conduct of NEET-UG 2024 must be addressed thoroughly.
• June 23: Of the 1,563 candidates who were initially awarded grace marks, 813 students appeared for the exam again.
• July 1 – The number of top rankers in NEET-UG 2024 dropped from 67 to 61 after NTA declared revised results.
• July 5: Centre tells Supreme Court that blanket cancellation of NEET-UG 2024 exam will 'seriously endanger' lakhs of honest students and is not justified without evidence of large-scale violations.
• July 5 - NTA argues in the Supreme Court that cancelling NEET-UG 2024 would be extremely prejudicial and detrimental to public interest, particularly affecting the career prospects of those who pass. One thing is clear... the questions were leaked. The sanctity of the exam has been compromised... there is no doubt about that. Now we have to find out the extent of the leak. "We have to be careful while ordering a re-examination. We are dealing with the careers of lakhs of students," the Chief Justice said.