SC seeks NTA response on plea for fresh NEET-UG amid 'paper leak', 'malpractice' allegations
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the response of the Centre and the National Testing Agency on a plea seeking fresh conduct of medical entrance exam NEET-UG, 2024, on the grounds of alleged question paper leak and other malpractices.
Taking note of the allegations of paper leak and other malpractices, a vacation bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah said, "It is not that simple that because what you have done is sacrosanct. Sanctity has been affected, so we need answers."
The top court, however, refused to stay the counselling of successful candidates for admissions to MBBS, BDS and other courses.
Besides the Centre and the NTA, which conducts NEET-UG, the bench also issued notices to the Bihar government. There were allegations of malpractice in the exam in the state.
"How much time do you want? Immediately on the re-opening? Otherwise, the counselling will start," the bench said.
It tagged the plea filed by Shivangi Mishra and nine other MBBS aspirants with a pending one and asked the NTA to file the response in the meantime. The top court's benches will resume regular hearings on July 8 after the summer vacation which commenced on May 20.
NEET-UG, 2024, was held on May 5 and results were declared on June 4. It was expected to be declared on June 14.
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) examination is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to MBBS, BDS and AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.
"Issue notice. In the meantime, the response will be filed by the National Testing Agency," the bench said.
It, however, did not agree to the submission of lawyer Mathews J Nedumpara, appearing for the students, that the counselling of students be stayed in the meantime. "Let the counselling start, we are not stopping the counselling... We will not stop the counselling. If you argue further, we will dismiss this,” the bench said.
The apex court bench took note of submissions that the fresh plea be tagged along with the earlier similar petition on which a bench headed by CJI DY Chanrdarchud had issued notices to the Centre and the NTA on May 17 and that plea was already listed on July 8.
It allowed the submissions.
The fresh plea alleged that NEET-UG, 2024, was riddled with malpractices as various instances of alleged paper leaks have come to the knowledge of the petitioners.
The alleged leak was violative of Article 14 (right to equality) under the Constitution as it gave an undue advantage to some candidates over others who chose to attempt the examination in a fair manner, it said.
Shivangi Mishra and others had filed the plea on June 1 before the declaration of the NEET-UG results. After the declaration of the results, a few more petitions have been filed in the top court against the NTA's decision to award grace marks to several candidates. Those pleas are yet to be listed for hearing.
On May 17, the CJI-led bench refused to grant a stay on the results of the NEET-UG 2024. It, however, had agreed to issue notice on the plea for re-examination.
Similar petitions are pending in different high courts as well.
One of the petitions before the Supreme Court has specifically referred to the allegations that the paper was leaked in Patna and wrong question papers were given to candidates
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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
