SC dismisses plea seeking cancellation of NEET undergraduate exam

PTI, Oct 4, 2021, 2:13 PM IST

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday refused to entertain a plea seeking cancellation of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, undergraduate, (NEET-UG) held on September 12, 2021, on the ground that the examination was not conducted in a fair and transparent manner.
The apex court dismissed the plea saying that cancellation of the exam cannot be at the cost of lakhs of students.

A bench headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao, which stopped short of imposing Rs 5 lakh cost, noted that the petitioner seeks to set aside the NEET-UG Exam and direct the National Testing Agency to conduct the exam afresh.

The basis is that CBI has registered 3 FIRs wherein it has stated that there has been impersonation of the candidates, the apex court noted.

“What kind of writs are filed under Article 32? Lakhs of people have taken these exams? When people come to you (advocate), don’t you say that these will be dismissed with a cost? You now want to cancel the entire exam? You argue, we’ll deal with this at length and we’ll deal with you specially,” the bench also comprising Justice B R Gavai said.

Advocate Ninad Dogra, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that CBI has registered three FIRs and examination papers were leaked on WhatsApp.

The top court was hearing a plea filed by 20-year-old petitioner Saloni seeking cancellation of the NEET-UG exam held on September 12, 2021, citing alleged malpractices and conducting the exam afresh.