NEET-UG Row: Plea In SC Alleges NTA Officials Manipulated OMR Sheets, Seeks Disclosure

This petition has alleged that the National Testing Agency officials were involved in the manipulation of Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets in National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) of 2024

This petition has alleged that the NTA officials were involved in the manipulation of OMR sheets ( Image Source :PTI )

NEET-UG 2024 Controversy: Another petition has been filed in the Supreme Court pertaining to the NEET-UG medical entrance examination. This petition has alleged that the National Testing Agency (NTA) officials were involved in the manipulation of Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets in National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) of 2024.

A Bench of Justices Manoj Misra and SVN Bhatti heard the matter and asked the petitioner why he had filed it as a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution when it should have been filed as an intervening application in the matters listed for July 8. 

The top court also observed that the petitioner had not yet withdrawn the petition from the high court. The bench directed the counsel to withdraw the plea from high court and then move an affidavit in the top court. The court will take up the matter next week.

The petitioner told the court that he has moved a separate writ petition as his grounds are completely different from the pending petitions. The bench asked him that why he can't file an RTI for the same.

The counsel contended that the NTA officials were involved in the swapping of OMR sheets and sought an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the malpractices.

Notably, the NTA conducted the NEET examination on May 5 across 4,750 centers and was taken by around 24 lakh candidates. Although the results were expected to be declared on June 14, they were announced earlier on June 4, as the evaluation of the answer sheets was completed ahead of schedule. Allegations of a question paper leak and the granting of grace marks to over 1,500 medical aspirants have sparked protests and led to the filing of cases in high courts as well as the Supreme Court.

Last week, the top court tagged all the petitions for hearing on July 8.