“Fear-mongering of opposition parties can be put to rest now”: Annamalai on NEET issue

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 11 (ANI): Amidst the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination 2024, Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party president K Annamalai on Thursday asserted that the paper leak was “localised leak” that has been controlled, adding that the “fear-mongering” of opposition parties can be put to rest now.

“IIT Madras did a survey about the nature of the paper leak, they are very clear that it has been contained. It did not reach many people… Supreme Court also mentioned a few days ago that it does not seem to be a widespread leak… It is a very localised leak that has been controlled, the fear-mongering of opposition parties can be put to rest now,” Annamalai told ANI.

On July 8, the Supreme Court said that there is no doubt that the NEET-UG held on May 5 was compromised by a question paper leak and asked the National Testing Agency (NTA) to apprise it about the steps taken to identify the candidates who benefited from the paper leak.

A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra also asked NTA to inform about the steps taken by it to identify the centres/cities where leaks of paper took place, modalities followed to identify beneficiaries of the leak and how the leak was disseminated.

Saying that the fact of the paper leak in the NEET-UG exam cannot be denied, the bench observed that it has to be ascertained if the nature of the leak was widespread or isolated to decide on ordering a re-test.

The apex court was hearing a batch of pleas seeking direction to recall NEET-UG 2024 results and to conduct the examination afresh, alleging paper leakage and malpractices in the test held.

The NEET-UG exam, held on May 5, 2024, has been mired in controversy, with allegations of cheating and impersonation. The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducted the exam, has faced severe criticism, leading to protests and legal actions. The Union Health Ministry has postponed the NEET-PG 2024 examination, with new dates to be announced soon.

The government has replaced the chief of the NTA and formed a committee to review and improve its functioning.

NEET-UG examination, conducted by NTA, is the pathway for admissions into MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.

The NEET-UG, 2024 was held across 4,750 centres on May 5 and around 24 lakh candidates appeared in it.