NEET-UG hearing: CJI Chandrachud pulls up advocate Matthew for interrupting; lawyer later ‘forgives’ CJI

New Delhi [India], July 23 (ANI): The Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud on Tuesday pulled up senior advocate Matthew Nedumpara for intervening during the NEET-UG exam hearing.

During the hearing of the NEET-UG case, advocate Matthew Nedumpara intervened to answer CJI DY Chandrachud’s query on the issue. Thereafter, the CJI asked him not to interrupt the proceedings as the question was asked to another lawyer.

Nedumpara said he wanted to speak and he is the senior of most of the lawyers in the court.

“Whenever I want to speak, the CJI prevents me from speaking,” he said.

To this, CJI said, “I don’t want you to answer the question. Sit down, otherwise, I will have you removed from the court.”

As Nedumpara kept on arguing, CJI said, “Please call the security and have Mr Nedumpara removed from the court.”

“You will not interrupt any other lawyer. I am in charge of the procedure in this court. I have seen the judiciary for the last 24 years and I will not allow any lawyer to dictate the procedure of my court,” said CJI to Nedumpara.

Nedumpara, further said that this is unfair and he will leave the court.

The advocate, as he began arguments in the case, apologized to the bench as his turn came to put forth his arguments.

“I conclude by saying I forgive your lordships for the insult and humiliation to me. I have nothing in my mind, I have the greatest regard of your lordship,” he said.

“I am sorry. I have not done anything wrong. I was unfairly treated. Anyway, I am amazed at the discussions happening. We are having a criminal trial and we are having discussions with CBI. Ask a common man if a leak has happened. There is no alternative than a re-test, it may be inconvenient but the only solution is to reduce the inconvenience,” he said.

He represents some students in the NEET-UG case who demand a re-test.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to cancel the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Under Graduate (NEET-UG) 2024 examination held on May 5, holding that there was no systemic breach in the exam.

A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said that at the present stage, there is an absence of material on record to lead to the conclusion that the result of the exam is vitiated or that there is any systematic breach.

It said the data on record is not indicative of a systemic leak of the NEET-UG question paper, which would indicate a disruption of the sanctity of the exam.

However, it acknowledged the fact that the leak of the NEET-UG paper took place at Hazaribagh and Patna and said that it is “not in dispute”.

The apex court also said that the report submitted by the government shows probe is on and the central agency indicates that material shows 155 students drawn from the exam centres at Hazaribagh and Patna appeared to be the beneficiaries of the fraud.