Centre Opposes Cancellation of NEET-UG Exam, Cites Impact on Honest Candidates

July 5, 2024

In a preliminary affidavit filed before the Supreme Court on Friday, the Centre opposed the batch of pleas seeking the cancellation of the NEET-UG examination, which is used for admission to undergraduate medical programs. The Union Ministry of Education argued that cancelling the entire exam would adversely affect “lakhs of honest candidates” who took the exam on May 5.

The Ministry emphasized that scrapping the exam would jeopardize the interests of the numerous students who attempted the question paper without resorting to unfair means. “In the absence of any proof of any large-scale breach of confidentiality in a pan-India examination, it would not be rational to scrap the entire examination and the results already declared. It is submitted that in any examination, there are competing rights that have been created whereby the interests of a large number of students who have taken the examination without adopting any alleged unfair means must not also be jeopardised,” the affidavit stated.

Regarding allegations of irregularities, including cheating, impersonation, and malpractices, the Centre noted that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is conducting an investigation and has taken over cases registered in various states.

The Centre reiterated its commitment to conducting all competitive examinations fairly and transparently, asserting that any breach of confidentiality by criminal elements must be dealt with severely to ensure they are punished.

“The Government is committed to ensure the sanctity of examinations and protect the interest of students. To ensure transparency, fairness, and credibility in public examinations, Parliament has enacted the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 on 12.02.2024. The Act was brought into effect on 21.06.2024 and provides for stringent punishment for offences related to unfair means in public examinations. Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Rules, 2024 under the Act have also been notified on 23.06.2024,” the affidavit added.

Recently, the Supreme Court expressed reservations about a writ petition filed by Xylem Learning, a coaching institute, alleging irregularities in the NEET-UG exam. The court questioned the senior counsel representing the institution about the fundamental rights violated to warrant a petition under Article 32 of the Constitution.

Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu, in her address to a joint session of Parliament, affirmed the government’s commitment to a fair investigation and strict punishment for those guilty of paper leaks. “Even earlier, we have witnessed many instances of paper leaks in different states. It is important that we rise above party politics and undertake concrete measures nationwide. Parliament has also enacted a strict law against unfair means in examinations,” she stated.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the batch of petitions regarding the NEET-UG exam, including its cancellation, on July 8.