NEET-UG 2024 | Re-Evaluate All OMR Sheets Instead Of Cancelling Exam : Plea In Supreme Court

The petitioners, also the candidates who appeared in the examination this year, have averred that cancellation of the exam will amount to “severe injustice” and will have serious repercussions on the candidates who have worked hard for the examination. Further, such cancellation will severely cause prejudice to deserving candidates while benefiting only few.

In view of this, the petitioners, represented through advocate Tanvi Dubey, have suggested a re-evaluation instead of conducting a re-NEET. To strengthen this, it has been submitted that revaluation can address issues such as rank inflation and a substantial increase in the number of toppers.

The petition has been jointly filed by five candidates

“The alleged cancellation of examination, at this stage will have serious repercussions on the candidates who have thoroughly worked hard for the examination. The Petitioners propose to suggest that in view of the rank inflation this year, which is clear from the chart below, it is advisable to have revaluation of the scores rather than having a re-neet for all the candidates.”

It has also been brought to notice that, unlike in previous years, NTA opened a window for 24,000 candidates to register for the examination after the initial deadline had passed.

“There may be an apprehension of some tampering with respect to these 24000 newly added candidates, who registered as per notice dated 08.04.2024. Therefore, revaluation for the 24000 candidates is also paramount.,” the petition added.

The prayers, as described in the petition, are as follows:

“Issue an Appropriate Writ, Order or Direction, in the nature of a Writ of Mandamus, under Article 32 of the Constitution directing NTA ((Respondent No. 1, herein) not to pass any order amounting to cancellation of NEET-UG 2024 examination;

Issue an Appropriate Writ, Order or Direction, in the nature of a Writ of Mandamus, under Article 32 of the Constitution directing NTA to pass an order with respect to revaluation of the OMR sheets of all the candidates to ensure transparency of the examination process and in order to address the concerns regarding alleged tampering and rank inflation and soaring rise in the number of toppers (to 67) in NEET-UG 2024, assuming such concerns regarding transparency can be addressed by revaluation of OMR sheets rather than resorting to sharp conclusions like cancellation of examination [as prayed in prayer (a)];

Issue an Appropriate Writ, Order or Direction, in the nature of a Writ of Mandamus, under Article 32 of the Constitution directing NTA to scrutinize the OMR sheets of 24,000 candidates who registered for NEET-UG 2024 while the registration window was reopened vide notice dated 08.04.2024”

Under the scanner is the NEET-UG Examination 2024, an exam held by NTA on May 5 this year. Several petitions were filed before the Supreme Court and in high courts challenging this medical entrance exam.

The petitioners have called for judicial intervention into the alleged paper leak, award of grace marks against the time loss, and other irregularities/discrepancies that occurred during the conduct of the NEET-UG Examination.

It may also be noted that last week two students, who appeared for the exam, had filed an intervention application opposing the reconducting of 2024 examination.

Applicants/Interveners Ms Kritika Garg and Ms Priyanjali Garg argued that students who have prepared for years should not be subjected to the ordeal of rewriting the examination. They said that this would not only be “unfair” to the majority of students but also result in hardship to their families.

The Supreme Court will consider the cases related to NEET-UG 2024 on July 8.

Case Details: MISHA NIKUNJ SHAH & ORS v. NATIONAL TESTING AGENCY & ORS.