Introduction:

In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court addressed the contentious issue stemming from the NEET-UG 2024 exams. Various petitions challenged the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) decision to grant compensatory marks to 1563 candidates, citing discrepancies in exam conduct and alleged paper leaks. Prominent among these petitions were those filed by Abdullah Mohammed Faiz, Alakh Pandey, and Jaripiti Kartheek. Each petition argued against the awarding of grace marks, emphasizing fairness and adherence to established norms in exam administration.

Arguments of Both Sides:

Abdullah Mohammed Faiz and others contended that the awarding of grace marks was arbitrary and lacked transparency, highlighting concerns over the integrity of the examination process due to alleged paper leaks. Alakh Pandey raised objections based on representations from numerous students, asserting that the grace marks awarded were inconsistent and unjustified. Jaripiti Kartheek challenged the normalization formula used, arguing that compensatory marks should only cover unattempted questions proportional to the time lost.

Court’s Judgement:

After extensive deliberation, the Supreme Court endorsed the recommendations of the NTA panel, which suggested canceling the scorecards of the 1563 affected candidates. These candidates were offered the option to either accept their actual scores without grace marks or opt for a re-test. The re-test, scheduled for June 23, aimed to ensure fairness and uphold the sanctity of the examination process. The Court deemed the panel’s recommendations fair and reasonable, emphasizing the need to address student concerns while maintaining the exam’s integrity.