'NEET-UG Paper Leaked Only At Hazaribagh & Patna?' SC Says It Needs More Proof To Order Re-Test

The CJI DY Chandrachud led bench said that the petitioners will have to show the court that the paper leak was beyond Hazaribagh and Patna for it to consider a re-test.

The petitioners began their arguments saying that NTA have published the results without All India Ranks and Serial numbers

Source : PTI

The Supreme Court resumed hearing on Monday the petitions seeking a re-examination in cases relating to alleged paper leaks and malpractices in the NEET-UG 2024 exam. The petitioners began their arguments saying that NTA have published the results without All India Ranks and Serial numbers, which makes it difficult to analyse Centre-wise results.

 

The CJI DY Chandrachud led bench said that the petitioners will have to show the court that the paper leak was beyond Hazaribagh and Patna for it to consider a re-test. The CJI asked the counsel appearing for students to establish before the court, through available information including the data released by NTA on Centre-wise and city wise results to show the leak was widespread.

 

Senior Advocate Narender Hooda told the top court that the data NTA gave was not in full compliance with the top court's previous direction.

 

"They have given 5000 PDFs with just City name and Centre names, but still we tried to decipher it," Hooda said.

 

Hooda, appearing for students seeking re-test further, told the Supreme Court that Bihar police investigation statements say that the papers were received by the accused on May 4, which means that the leak happened on or before May 3, before the papers were sent to banks.

 

"Bihar police report shows paper was shown on May 4 and students were made to learn answers. This shows that the paper leaked prior to May 4, before the paper went to Banks (Before or on May 3)," Hooda told the court.

He further said that this is the handy work of a gang which has earlier also been linked to paper leaks. 

"It is not some peon who went to the paper room and gave it to some 5-10 students. It was the handiwork of a gang who had done it in the past too. Sanjeev Mukhya and all have not been arrested," Hooda told the top court.

 The Supreme Court bench headed by CJI Chandrachud went through the statements of accused Anurag Yadav which said he got the paper on May 4.

"Statements of Nitesh Kumar, Amit Anand and Sikander Prasad. Their 161 statements indicate that the leak is much prior to the examination," Hooda told the court.

Re-NEET Should Be Ordered Just For Sikar & Kota Or Entire Country? Asks SC 

Senior Advocate Narendra Hooda appearing for the students seeking a re-examination said that NTA data shows that certain exam centres are doing exceedingly well. He contended that the entire examination process is full of loopholes which can be exploited at several stages. Hooda told the top court that there is a systemic failure on part of the government and NTA in conducting the examination. 

He pointed out three systemic-failure in conduct of exams:

(1) City co-ordinators are private individuals who are also owners of private schools where exams are being held. He contends that there's a possibility that the owners/ principles of the private school are in league with the coaching centres in Kota and Sikar.

(2) Students are not required to give address proof. Anyone can fill any city and get an exam centre there.

(3) There is no SOP on how OMR/answer sheets are kept in check after the students hand them over. 

Hoodas showed data of Sikar and Kota where the Centres were doing exceedingly well. 

"Like Kota and Sikar both have equal number of students appearing. 38 out 50 top Centres are from Sikar alone which have students with marks in range of 650 which gets you a state college, and 6 Centres adjoining Rajasthan from Haryana border of Rewari, Mahendragarh, Bhiwani," Hooda said. 

"People have gone from Godhra to Karnataka...A girl got 705 marks on June 4, when she failed in Class 12 exam," Hooda said.

He further pointed out that there is one station in Rajkot, where 12 students are above 700. 115 above 650 marks. There is something special about this Centre...In Sikar, 8 are above 700. 69 above 650. 115 above 600. 241 above 550."

"City coordinators are owners of the private school and possibility cannot be ruled out that these schools are in league with the coaching centres in Kota and Sikar," Hooda said. 

At this point, the CJI asked, "Can that be a ground for re-test in the entire country or a re-test for Sikar and Kota?

The Supreme Court will now hear NTA and Centre after petitioners conclude.