The Supreme Court has informed the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the union government to address even the 0.001% disparity that exists with conduct of the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2024.

The government has been told that exams be investigated with all seriousness considering how much candidates have toiled in preparation of these exams nationwide.

It may be recollected that the controversy of NEET exams and grace marks given to students was heard by the apex court.

The petitioners have now petitioned the updated status of the investigation into the NEET-UG paper leak cases. It was submitted that since the counselling for the NEET-UG is scheduled to take place on July 6, the investigation status was crucial to be known.

This came when the vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and SV Bhatti were hearing a writ petition raising similar concerns raised in previous cases such as paper leak, malpractices and controversial grace marks given to some candidates.

While hearing the matter, Justice Bhatti orally said, “Even if there is 0.001% negligence on anyone’s part, it should be thoroughly dealt with. All these matters ought not to be treated as adversarial litigation.”

Speaking of the consequence of any negligence pertaining to these exams, Justice Bhatti warned that a candidate who practices medicine after playing fraud in the exam is more dangerous to the society. He added that the judges are mindful of the efforts candidates put in for this competitive medical entrance exam.

“Imagine a situation where a person who has played fraud on the system, has become a doctor, he is more deleterious towards society…. we all know the labour the children undergo especially for preparing for these exams,” Justice Bhatti remarked.

Inputs from LiveLaw

Also read: Congress demands SC-monitored probe into NEET exam ‘irregularities’