NEET-UG 2024: SC dismisses review plea on re-examination

The Supreme Court has recently dismissed the review petition seeking a reconsideration of its decision not to hold a fresh NEET-UG 2024 exam.

The petitioner, Kajal Kumari, had approached the Supreme Court requesting a review of its previous order dated 2 August.

A three-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra, rejected the petition on 22 October, observing that there was ‘no error apparent on the face of the record’ and concluding that no case for a review had been established.”

Previous rulings

This decision follows the Supreme Court’s order of 23 July, which rejected requests for a re-test of the NEET-UG 2024 examination. At the time, the court said that there was no data suggesting a “systemic breach” or that the “sanctity” of the exam was compromised, despite two localised leaks of the question papers in Patna and Hazaribagh.

In both its July and August rulings, the court highlighted that there was insufficient evidence to annul the exam, while implementing steps to strengthen the examination process and prevent future irregularities.

SC’s directives for exam security

Despite dismissing calls for a re-test, the Supreme Court issued detailed directions to improve the NEET-UG examination process. In its August ruling, the court outlined several measures to ensure the exam remains unbiased, transparent, and secure in future sittings. These measures included setting up an evaluation committee, creating a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for managing the exam process with specific guidelines on handling and storing question papers, and reviewing the process for assigning exam centres.

The court also recommended enhancing identity checks at various stages of the examination and implementing CCTV monitoring at exam centres to strengthen security. To further prevent tampering, the court advised using secure logistics providers for the transport of question papers and suggested establishing a robust grievance redressal mechanism.

Additionally, the court recommended using closed vehicles with real-time locks for transporting exam materials instead of open e-rickshaws, emphasising that this would help ensure the security of exam papers.