NEET row: SC seeks NTA’s response on plea alleging inconsistent calculation of marks

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a notice to the National Testing Agency (NTA) over the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024, following a petition filed by a learning app that claimed “inconsistent” calculation of marks on the OMR sheets.

During the hearing, the bench also pulled up coaching centres, saying they have “no role to play”. The plea was filed by a learning app ‘Xylem Learning’.

“This is one of the reasons where we see this role played by the coaching centres, bagpipers. They have hardly any role to play. Their obligation and duty…if they have discharged their service that is the end of the matter.” Justice Bhatti said.

A vacation bench of Justices Manoj Misra and SVN Bhatti sought a response by July 8, when the court will hear this case along with other related petitions concerning the NEET-UG controversy.

The petition filed by the learning app also raised concerns about the provision of OMR sheets to students who appeared for the medical entrance examination, alleging that several students did not get them.

The bench asked the NTA’s response regarding the time limit for providing OMR sheets to students.

“Let us know if there is a timeline to provide the OMR sheets. As of now we will tag it. Let NTA seek instructions on this,” the court noted and tagged the petition with others for July 8.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has begun investigating several cases in connection with the alleged irregularities and malpractices of the NEET-UG scam. The cases are spread across several states, and many people have already been arrested in the controversy.