The Supreme Court has once again opted not to intervene in the ongoing NEET-UG 2024 counselling process, amidst a significant uproar over alleged irregularities in the administration of the medical entrance exam. This decision by the apex court comes alongside the issuance of a notice to the National Testing Agency (NTA), the body responsible for conducting NEET-UG.The Supreme Court has decided to group the recent pleas with existing petitions related to the matter, scheduling them for a hearing on July 8. This move signals the courts intention to address the various concerns raised regarding the conduct and fairness of the NEET-UG 2024 examination.In a related development, the apex court has put a hold on proceedings before three high courts that were examining petitions challenging the NEET-UG 2024 conduct. These petitions had sought an independent investigation into alleged malpractices, including a paper leak and the assignment of grace marks.Transfer Petitions and HearingA vacation bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti has taken cognizance of four transfer petitions filed by the NTA and 11 other petitions presenting similar grievances. These matters have been combined with the ongoing cases and are set for a comprehensive hearing on July 8, emphasizing the gravity of the issues at hand.Courts ObservationsEarlier, the Supreme Court refrained from halting the counselling process, emphasizing the need for a thorough examination of even the slightest negligence. The courts stance reflects its commitment to ensuring integrity and fairness in high-stakes examinations like NEET-UG.Concerns and ActionsThe NEET-UG 2024 exam, conducted on May 5, raised eyebrows when over 60 students achieved perfect scores, leading to suspicions of irregularities. Additionally, controversies arose over the awarding of grace marks, prompting the NTA to ask more than 1500 candidates to retake the exam.
