Scrapping NEET-UG exam will be harmful to larger public interest: NTA to SC

The National Testing Agency (NTA) told the Supreme Court on Friday, 5 July, that cancellation of the controversy-ridden NEET-UG 2024 examination would be hugely counterproductive and significantly harmful to the larger public interest, especially to the career prospects of those who cleared it.

In its affidavit filed in response to one of the petitions in the top court, the NTA, which conducts the NEET-UG examination, said the alleged incident/attempt of leak does not seem to have any bearing on the conduct of the entire examination held on 5 May, as the number of candidates found to be involved by the investigating agencies is minuscule compared to number of candidates who appeared.

"The cancellation of the entire examination on the basis of the aforesaid factor, would be hugely counterproductive and significantly harmful to the larger public interest, especially to the career prospects of the qualified candidates," it said.

The agency said the NEET-UG 2024 exam was carried out fairly and with due confidentiality in entirety without any illegal practices and the claim of "mass malpractice" is "completely unfounded, misleading, and lacks any basis".

Scrapping the NEET-UG, 2024 exam in entirety would "seriously jeopardise" lakhs of honest candidates and not be rational in the absence of any proof of large-scale breach of confidentiality, the Centre also told the apex court on Friday in a separate affidavit.

The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) was conducted on 5 May by the NTA for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses.

The top court is scheduled to hear on 8 July a batch of pleas, including those alleging irregularities in the examination held on 5 May and seeking a direction that it be conducted afresh.

Allegations of irregularities, including paper leaks, have led to protests in several cities and sparring between rival political parties.