NEET-UG row: In the NEET paper leak case, SC asked the government- what action was taken against the beneficiary students? Otherwise the exam may be cancelled

Supreme Court’s decision in the NEET paper leak case.

scheduled caste decide on neet paper leak, The NEET paper leak case was heard in the Supreme Court on Monday. The candidates’ petitions alleged irregularities in the NEET paper exam and demanded that the exam be conducted afresh. Hearing all these 38 applications, the bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud in its decision asked the government several sharp questions regarding the paper leak. After completing the hearing in the case, the court directed the CBI to file a status report in the case. The next hearing of this case will now be held on July 11.

Then the exam can be cancelled- CJI

The lawyer appearing on behalf of the students said in his argument that NTA did not follow the standard SOP. The lawyer told the court that six FIRs have been registered in six states. The Supreme Court said in its comment that one thing is clear that the paper has been leaked but the question is on what scale has it happened? The paper has been leaked, it has been accepted as a fact. CJI Chandrachud asked whether the government is able to trace the beneficiary students? Has any action been taken against such students? The court asked what steps has the government taken to identify the beneficiary students? If it cannot trace the beneficiary students, then the exam can be canceled.

The court said- the grains will have to be separated from the chaff

The Supreme Court said, ‘If the leak is through electronic means like Telegram/Whatsapp… then it spreads like wildfire. Whereas if it happened on the morning of May 5, then it would have spread in a limited area. This is a matter of 20 lakh students. There are some red flags in this… like 67 candidates getting 720/720, which was very less in previous years. Second – changing the center. We have to separate the grains from the chaff so that re-examination is conducted only in those places where irregularities have occurred.’

Can forensic data analysis be done?

The apex court said that the Centre should be instructed to tell whether forensic data analysis can be done in this case. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should file a status report on its investigation. The CJI asked the Advocate General whether we cannot find out through the data analytics program in the cyber forensic department, (a) whether the entire examination has been affected. (b) whether it is possible to identify the wrongdoers, in which case a re-examination can be ordered only for those students.

These applications were heard by CJI, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Mishra. The exam for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other medical courses was held on May 5 across the country.