NEET UG Hearing 2024: “There was no widespread material to substantiate leaks” – 10 crucial observations from the Supreme Court today

On July 22, the Supreme Court directed the director of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, to constitute a three-member expert panel to give its opinion on the correct answer to a multiple-choice question of NEET-UG 2024, for which The National Testing Agency (NTA) awarded marks for two options.

The court issued the direction after hearing some plaintiffs who challenged the NTA's decision to consider two options as the correct answers to the question. The court has asked that the report be presented to it by 12 noon, legal news website LiveLaw said.

Follow all NEET UG 2024 hearing updates here

The top court is hearing a batch of petitions seeking cancellation, reconsideration and a court-monitored probe into the NEET UG 2024 exam held on May 5 this year. The hearing continues on July 23. A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra is hearing the matter.

Here is a list of key comments from the Supreme Court during the July 22 hearing:

1-As stated, students had to choose one option as an answer according to the question asked. “In order to resolve the issue regarding the correct answer, we are of the considered view that an expert opinion should be sought from IIT Delhi,” the bench said.

2- We request the Director of IIT Delhi to assemble a team of three experts on the subject in question. The team of experts formed by the Director is asked to formulate a statement on the right option and submit the statement to the Registrar by 12 noon tomorrow. The Registrar General is requested to communicate the order to the Director of IIT Delhi so that expeditious steps can be taken to prepare the report, the court said

3-During the hearing, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud noted that the plaintiff's argument had some force. “This is a strong argument. The instructions are based on the latest NCERT edition. Option 4 is the correct answer as per the latest NCERT edition. Then those who answered option 2 cannot be given full marks. I think they may have a point,” the CJI was quoted as saying LiveLaw.

4–In many professional exams, students select specific centers. Because it is felt that the labeling in these centers is lenient, the CJI said. “This may not be a reason to cancel the entire exam,” CJI said during the hearing.

5- How do you determine that the paper leak has spread across the country? The CJI asked after advocate Narender Hooda, appearing for the petitioners, told the court that apart from disclosing records, the system was so fragile that it was constantly being compromised.

6-If the leak occurred on the night of 4th (May), then obviously it did not happen during transportation but before, in the strong room of the strong room, said the Chief Justice of India said DY Chandrachud.

7- This indicates that the students were asked to memorize on the night of the 4th (May), which means the leak occurred before the 4th, CJI said after reading the Bihar police report.

8- The CJI requests the remaining lawyers seeking reconsideration to send written submissions via email.

9-If there are loopholes, we will take care of them. Essentially you have focused on Hazaribagh, Patna…some failures in Bahadurgarh…Where do you show systemic failure? CJI has asked advocate Narender Hooda to appear for the petitioners.

10-We have no material yet to prove that the leak was so widespread and spread across the entire country.