'Sad that authorities have not learnt lessons'; Supreme Court intervenes in NEET exam irregularities

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India has intervened in the NEET question paper leak case and expressed serious concern over the incident. The apex court remarked that it was sad that the National Testing Agency (NTA) had not learnt its lessons from previous incidents. The bench also noted that a committee had already been formed in connection with the matter. Referring to the monitoring mechanisms that existed earlier, the court questioned the responsibility for properly implementing those systems.

The court directed the NTA to submit an affidavit explaining the status of the monitoring committee formed on November 14. The bench also instructed the agency to detail the steps taken to ensure that the recommendations made earlier by a high-level committee for strengthening exam security are being followed. Both affidavits must be submitted before the court within three days.

A Supreme Court bench comprising Justice P. S. Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe heard two petitions related to the NEET paper leak case. The petitions were filed by the Federation of All India Medical Association and the United Doctors Front seeking the court’s intervention. The petitioners demanded the dissolution of the NTA and a CBI probe into the question paper leak.