No need for NEET-UG re-test: Supreme Court

New Delhi: Despite CBI's submission that the paper was leaked in Jharkhand's Hazaribhag, the Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that there is no need for a re-test for NEET-UG 2024. The apex court dismissed the pleas that sought cancellation and re-test of the controversy-ridden exam, observing that there was no data on record to indicate that a systematic leak of the exam or other malpractices happened, PTI reported.

However, CBI, which is probing the case, told the court on Tuesday that, indeed, there was a leak at a school in Jharkhand. Solved papers were sent to two locations in Patna as well, CBI said. But the top court decided otherwise.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra heard submissions from a battery of lawyers, including Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA) and senior advocates Narender Hooda, Sanjay Hegde and Mathews Nedumapra for around four days.

The bench dictated the operative part of the judgement, keeping in mind the future of over two million students, and said a detailed judgement would follow.

"There is absence of material to conclude that result of NEET-UG 2024 exam is vitiated or there is systemic breach," the CJI said.

The bench, however, said the fact that the question paper leak took place in Hazaribagh and Patna was not in dispute.

The NTA and the Union education ministry have been at the centre of a massive political row and protests by students over alleged large-scale malpractices ranging from question paper leaks to impersonation in the test held on May 5.

The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) is conducted by the NTA for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.

The NEET-UG 2024 was taken by 23.33 lakh students at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 overseas, on May 5.