News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/11th July 2024
In a recent affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, the National Testing Agency (NTA) asserted that a video purporting to show a leaked NEET UG exam paper on Telegram on May 4 was fabricated. The NTA emphasized that the video’s timestamp had been manipulated to falsely suggest an early leak. This manipulation created an illusion of malpractice where none existed, the affidavit detailed.
During the previous court session on July 8, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and the bench requested a comprehensive response from the Union and NTA concerning the extent of the alleged leak. They also sought clarity on the feasibility of isolating the culprits from genuine candidates. The court highlighted that if the integrity of the entire exam was compromised and separating the beneficiaries of fraud from honest candidates proved impractical, a re-test might be warranted. However, this re-test was suggested as a last resort due to its potential impact on nearly 2.4 million students.
Senior Counsel Narender Hooda, during the proceedings, claimed that the exam papers had been circulated on the Telegram app on May 3 and 4, before the exam date. This assertion was part of the broader argument presented before the court, suggesting a more extensive leak.
The NTA, in its affidavit, countered these claims by stating that social media comments and discussions revealed that the images in the video were altered. The date on the images was deliberately changed to imply a leak on May 4. Screenshots provided by the NTA underscored the fabricated nature of the claims. Additionally, the affidavit mentioned a neutral third party’s video showing how the date on the exam images could be edited to display May 4 instead of the actual date.
The court also noted that if the leak had occurred via electronic media, it might have a widespread impact. Despite this, the NTA maintained that the alleged paper leak in Patna did not compromise the overall integrity of the NEET UG exam. According to the NTA, the number of students implicated in the Patna incident was negligible compared to the total number of candidates. Therefore, canceling the entire exam based on this isolated incident would be counterproductive and detrimental to the majority of honest candidates’ career prospects.
Furthermore, the Centre’s affidavit echoed the NTA’s stance, indicating no signs of mass malpractice in the NEET UG exam. This conclusion was supported by a data analytics study conducted by experts from IIT Madras, affirming the exam’s overall integrity.
The Supreme Court is set to continue hearing the case on July 11, seeking to balance the need for fairness with the practical implications of a potential re-test. The outcome will significantly impact the future of nearly 2.4 million students who appeared for the NEET UG exam, making it a matter of considerable public interest.
