Supreme Court docket widens panel remit on examination safeguards | India Information

New Delhi: Supreme Court docket on Friday introduced closure to the controversy over NEET UG- 2024 by holding that there was no systemic failure on this 12 months’s examination for admission to medical schools throughout the nation and that the paper leak was restricted to centres in Hazaribag and Patna. This brings finality to the outcomes and ranks of the check.
Moreover, it expanded the remit of the Centre-appointed panel headed by Isro ex-chairman Ok Radhakrishnan to allow it to advocate measures to make sure safety, sanctity and integrity of pan-India exams.It requested for the report be submitted by Sept 30. The SC criticised Nationwide Testing Company for its laxity and flip-flops. “By figuring out and rectifying vulnerabilities, such a panel will assist restore belief within the examination system and implement strong safeguards,” it mentioned.
SC: NTA can’t afford to take unsuitable step & amend later
Announcing a 63-page judgment detailing causes for its refusal on July 23 to cancel NEET-UG, a bench of CJI D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra mentioned, “By figuring out and rectifying vulnerabilities, such a committee will assist restore belief within the examination system and implement strong safeguards to forestall future malpractice.” It faulted NTA for failing to speak in time to designated banks for launch of a specific set of query papers, leading to candidates getting a unsuitable set.

“A physique equivalent to NTA, which is entrusted with immense duty in relation to extremely vital aggressive exams, can’t afford to misstep, take an incorrect resolution and amend it at a later stage. All selections should be effectively thought-about, with due regard to the significance of the choice. Flip-flops are an anathema to equity,” the CJI mentioned.
Although the bench spared 23.3 lakh college students having to take NEET-UG afresh, as demanded by petitioners, it faulted NTA for failing to speak in time to designated banks for launch of a specific set of query papers, leading to candidates getting a unsuitable set.
The apex court docket additionally held NTA accountable for awarding full marks for 2 choices to an atomic principle query when it was clear that solely one of many choices was appropriate, as was later reaffirmed by IIT-Delhi. Additional, it criticised NTA’s resolution to award grace marks leading to over 60 candidates scoring good 720/720 marks.
Authoring the judgment, CJI Chandrachud mentioned the Radhakrishnan committee should consider and advocate reforms within the mechanism of administration of exams, which should embody rigorous checks and balances at each stage, from setting query papers to declaring outcomes. It prolonged the panel’s tenure from Aug 22 to Sept 30, by when it should submit its suggestions to training ministry.
SC mentioned the Dharmendra Pradhan-headed ministry shall take a call on the committee’s suggestions inside a month of receiving the report.
The bench mentioned the committee would additionally formulate SOPs which set out the timelines for registration, adjustments to most popular cities, sealing of OMR sheets as soon as candidates submit them to the invigilator, and different processes associated to conduct of the examination. “As soon as adopted by NTA, the SOPs should be adhered to, to take care of the integrity of the examination,” it mentioned.