Sad that NTA has not learnt lessons': Supreme Court on NEET-UG paper leak

NEW DELHI — Expressing severe anguish over recurring irregularities in the medical entrance exam, the Supreme Court of India on Monday pulled up the National Testing Agency (NTA), stating it is "sad" that the body has failed to learn lessons from past lapses.

A vacation bench comprising Justices P. S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe made these strong oral remarks while hearing a batch of petitions filed by medical associations. The pleas seek a complete restructuring or total replacement of the NTA with a highly secure, autonomous body to safeguard the future of over 22.7 lakh aspirants. The development follows the widespread outrage and subsequent cancellation of the NEET-UG examination conducted earlier this month on May 3.

"It is sad that they have not learnt their lessons. The matter travelled to this court earlier also. There was a monitoring committee which made recommendations, and they were accepted," the bench observed.

The apex court issued formal notices seeking responses from the Union Government, the NTA, and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is currently probing the leak network. Furthermore, the court directed the NTA to file a comprehensive compliance affidavit by Thursday, detailing the specific steps taken to implement the security measures recommended by the high-powered K. Radhakrishnan committee after previous controversies.

The petitioners argued that back-to-back paper leaks constitute a direct assault on the fundamental rights of honest students. They have demanded a transition to a computer-based test model and judicially monitored oversight for any re-examinations. The top court has tagged all similar matters together and scheduled the next crucial hearing for Friday, May 29.