NEET-UG Results: What Is Procedure To Raise Grievances Against OMR Sheets? SC Asks NTA

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to file response to a petition seeking disclosure of OMR sheets to students who appeared in the NEET-UG examination 2024.

The top court noted that this was the 32nd petition filed by a coaching centre

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The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to file response to a petition seeking disclosure of OMR sheets to students who appeared in the NEET-UG examination 2024. The top court was hearing a petition filed by a coaching institute and some aspirants who prayed that the students who appeared in the medical entrance test were entitled to their OMR sheets. 

Senior advocate R Basant appearing for the petitioners told the court that several individuals are aggrieved in the case and claimed that the OMR sheets calculations are inconsistent.

The bench comprising Manoj Misra and S.V.N. Bhatti asked if there was any time limit for raising the grievance regarding the OMR sheets.

"Normally in such matters if OMR sheets are uploaded and if there is any grievance, then there is a time limit," the bench asked.

The NTA's counsel said that he would check the facts and get back to the court. Counsel for petitioners, R Basant told the court that no defined procedure exists to raise an objections.

The top court noted that this was the 32nd petition filed by a coaching centre and asked the advocate to explain how the coaching centre's fundamental rights were being affected.

However, the counsel pointed out that the other respondents were included students individually affected were supposed to be given the OMR sheets.

The counsel sought an interim relief for obtaining the OMR sheets as some of the students have not been granted the same yet. However, the NTA counsel told the court that the OMR sheets have been uploaded and given to the candidates.

After hearing the submissions, the apex court agreed to list the matter along with connected cases. 

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. The top court has listed petitions allegeing paper leak, unfair means and malpractices for July 8.