Centre tells Supreme Court scrapping NEET exam would seriously jeopardize lakhs of candidates [Read Centres Affidavit]

New Delhi: The Union Government has informed the Supreme Court that it is committed to ensuring the sanctity of NEET examinations and protecting the interests of students. The government stated that scrapping the exam entirely would seriously jeopardize the lakhs of honest candidates who attempted the question paper in 2024.

In its affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, the Centre submitted that, in the absence of any proof of a 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 further submitted that in any examination, there are competing rights, and the interests of a large number of students who have taken the examination without adopting any alleged unfair means must not be jeopardized. Scrapping the exam in its entirety would seriously jeopardize the lakhs of honest candidates who attempted the question paper in 2024, the affidavit filed by the Centre stated.

It is respectfully submitted that the Government is committed to ensuring the sanctity of examinations and protecting the interests of students. To ensure transparency, fairness, and credibility in public examinations, Parliament 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. The Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Rules, 2024 under the Act were also notified on 23.06.2024, the Centre said in the affidavit.

The Centre also submitted that in the absence of any proof of a 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.

The Union Government stated that the interests of a large number of students who have taken the examination without adopting any alleged unfair means must not be jeopardized.

The affidavit apprised that the Ministry of Education has constituted, after the present examination, a High-Level Committee of Experts to suggest effective measures for conducting transparent, smooth, and fair examinations by the National Testing Agency.

The affidavit also submitted that the Committee has started its deliberations and held four meetings. It has also started consultation with stakeholders, especially students, and has sought suggestions and ideas online until 7th July.

The Union of India stated that it is committed to conducting all competitive examinations in a fair and transparent manner. The Union of India duly appreciates that the confidentiality of the question papers is of utmost priority in any examination and that if, due to some criminality at the behest of some criminal elements, the confidentiality has been breached, the Union of India submits that such persons must be dealt with sternly and with the full force of the law to ensure they are punished. The UOI also informed that the CBI is probing the irregularities in the exams.

[Read Centres Affidavit]