New Delhi: The Centre has filed an affidavit with the Supreme Court, arguing against the cancellation of the entire NEET UG 2024 examination held on May 5, citing the absence of evidence for a large-scale breach of confidentiality. The affidavit, submitted on Friday, stresses that invalidating the exam would jeopardize the efforts of lakhs of honest candidates who participated.
The Centre emphasized in its affidavit the importance of maintaining the integrity of competitive exams. “The Union of India duly appreciates that the confidentiality of the question papers is of utmost priority in any examination. If, due to some criminality at the behest of some criminal elements, the confidentiality has been breached, the Union of India submits that the said person must be dealt with sternly and with the full force of law to ensure that they are punished,” the affidavit reads.
The government highlighted the necessity of balancing competing rights, particularly protecting the interests of the majority of students who did not engage in unfair practices. “Scrapping the exam in its entirety would seriously jeopardize the lakhs of honest candidates who attempted the question paper in 2024,” the Centre added.
The affidavit further stated that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been tasked with investigating the full range of allegations, including conspiracy, cheating, impersonation, and breach of trust.
The Supreme Court is set to hear a series of pleas on July 8, including those alleging irregularities in the May 5 examination and requesting a re-conduct of the test. On June 13, the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA) informed the court that they had cancelled the grace marks awarded to 1,563 candidates, who were then given the choice to either retake the test or forgo the compensatory marks given for the loss of time.
Following the re-test held on June 23, the NTA announced a revised rank list on July 1. An unprecedented 67 students scored a perfect 720, with six from a center in Haryana, raising suspicions about possible irregularities. It was alleged that the grace marks contributed to these 67 students achieving the top rank.
Protests have erupted in several cities over these allegations, leading to political clashes among rival parties. The upcoming Supreme Court hearing will be crucial in determining the fate of the NEET UG 2024 examination and addressing the concerns of affected students.