In a recent legal showdown at the Calcutta High Court, the National Testing Agency (NTA) found itself under the judicial spotlight regarding alleged irregularities in the NEET (UG) 2024 examination. The courtroom drama unfolded as a public interest litigation (PIL) spearheaded by Tanmoy Chattopadhyay leveled accusations against the administration of the pivotal exam.
Chattopadhyay’s contention revolved around the implausibility of certain candidates achieving staggering scores of 718 or 719, considering the established marking system. This raised pertinent questions about the integrity of the evaluation process.
The judiciary, represented by a division bench comprising Justice Kausik Chanda and Justice Apurba Singh Ray, scrutinized the NTA’s defense, particularly its reliance on a precedent set forth by the Supreme Court in the case of Akshat Aggarwal v. Union of India. However, unsatisfied with mere references to legal precedent, the bench demanded concrete explanations.
Consequently, the Court issued a stern directive for the NTA to furnish a comprehensive affidavit within ten days, addressing the allegations laid out in the PIL. Moreover, the NTA was pressed to elucidate how both state and central reservation policies were adhered to in compiling the merit list for the examination.
Amidst legal deliberations, the matter was adjourned for two weeks, pending review by a regular bench. The NTA was further instructed to safeguard all pertinent records until further judicial notice.
Ensuring the integrity of the counselling process, the Court emphasized that its outcome would be contingent upon the resolution of the ongoing legal dispute.
Representatives from both the Deputy Solicitor General of India and advocate Sunit Kumar Roy stood their ground in defense of the NTA and the Union of India, respectively.
As the legal battle intensifies, the spotlight remains firmly fixed on the NTA’s accountability in ensuring fairness and transparency in the NEET (UG) 2024 examination.
