Supreme Court to Hear Plea Seeking Cancellation of NEET-UG, Stay on Counselling, CBI Probe Today

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India is set to hear a plea seeking the cancellation of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2024. The petition, filed by concerned parties, also requests a stay on the ongoing counselling process and demands a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged malpractices that reportedly compromised the integrity of the exam. The hearing will take place before the vacation bench of the Supreme Court. Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti will hear the matter today. 

The NEET UG 2024, which serves as a gateway for admission to medical and dental colleges across the country, has come under scrutiny following allegations of widespread irregularities. These include reports of cheating, paper leaks, and other unethical practices that purportedly took place during the examination held earlier this year.

On Thursday, the apex court issued notices to the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Central government, seeking responses on allegations surrounding the recent exam. Moreover, Subodh Kumar, Director General of the NTA was summoned by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to explain the issues surrounding the NEET exam fiasco. 

The plea argues that these malpractices have undermined the fairness and credibility of the exam, thus affecting the future of thousands of aspiring medical students. The petitioners contend that only a thorough investigation by the CBI can uncover the extent of these irregularities and ensure justice for the affected candidates.

In addition to the cancellation of the exam, the plea seeks an immediate halt to the ongoing counselling process. According to the petitioners, proceeding with counselling based on a potentially compromised exam would further jeopardize the academic future of many students.

Further updates on the proceedings and the Supreme Court's ruling will be closely monitored, given the significant impact on the medical admission process for this academic year.