The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the National Testing Agency (NTA) in response to pleas seeking a fresh NEET-UG 2024 examination due to allegations of paper leaks. The apex court noted that the examination’s “sanctity” had been compromised and demanded an explanation from the NTA.

“It’s not that simple, just because you’ve done it, it’s sacrosanct. The sanctity has been affected, so we need answers,” the vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah told NTA.

Advocate Mathews J Nedumpara, representing the petitioners, urged the bench to stay the counseling process.

However, the SC declined to postpone the counseling and set a hearing date for July 8.

“Let the counseling start, we are not stopping the counseling,” the bench remarked

The Supreme Court was considering petitions seeking the cancellation of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test – Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2024 exam due to alleged paper leaks and other irregularities this year.

In addition to the paper leak, NEET-UG candidates have complained about irregularities in awarding students compensatory marks for lost time.

Multiple appeals were filed with the Supreme Court seeking direction to recall NEET-UG 2024 results and to conduct the examination afresh, citing paper leaks and irregularities in the May 5 exam.

The NTA has denied any wrongdoing.

The NEET-UG exam, conducted by NTA, is the gateway to undergraduate medical, dental, and AYUSH admissions in government and private institutions across the country.