Supreme Court Orders NTA To Take Decision by 4 PM on Candidates' Plea Seeking Cancellation of NEET

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India today heard a petition seeking the cancellation of the NEET UG 2024 exam and a stay on the counselling process, which is set to begin on July 6. A vacation bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti presided over the hearing.

During the proceedings, Justice Nath directed the counsel for the National Testing Agency (NTA) to ensure that the NTA takes a decision on the representation of the petitioner by 3 PM today. The petitioner had been sending requests to the NTA and claimed he had not received any response.

Advocate Vardhaman Kaushik, representing the NTA, accepted the notice. Justice Nath emphasized that the NTA should take a decision on the petitioner's representation before 4 PM and communicate it to him via email.

The petitioner's counsel argued that the exam should be re-conducted, alleging that the NTA had withheld material information and that 773 candidates had failed without being given grace marks. The counsel further requested appropriate orders and directions on a petition seeking a CBI investigation into the alleged paper leak, which was also listed before the same bench.

During the hearing, Justice Nath instructed the NTA counsel to file a response to the interim applications for orders, noting that the response should be submitted within two weeks and tagged with other related petitions.

The petitioner's counsel clarified that they were not seeking an immediate stay of the counselling process but requested a pause for two days. They pointed out that the main matter is scheduled for hearing on July 8, just two days after the counselling is set to commence.

Justice Bhatti commented on the nature of the counselling process, explaining that it is not an "open and shut" matter. He noted that the process will commence on July 6 and will continue for a week, during which applicants have multiple options to amend or modify their choices. Only after these options are exercised does the process enter the domain of the convenor.

The court's decision and the developments in this case are being closely watched by NEET UG 2024 candidates and stakeholders, as they await further directions on the re-conduct