The court noted that only five of over 200,000 students had filed the petition. However, it was stated that the request had received support from many students, with approximately 50,000 messages received.
At the behest of 5 petitioners, we can’t put the career of 2 lakh students at jeopardy. Let there be certainty.
LiveLaw quoted CJI during the hearing.
The petition addressed two major concerns: First, several NEET-PG 2024 candidates have been assigned test centres that are difficult to reach. Second, there are concerns that the exam will be administered in two batches without clarity on the normalisation process, raising concerns about potential unfairness, according to LiveLaw.
What happened at the Supreme Court NEET PG 2024 postponement hearing today
During today’s NEET PG hearing, advocate Sanjay Hegde represented the petitioners. The Chief Justice of India (CJI) stated that rescheduling the PG exam was not feasible, emphasising the difficulties involved and recognising the stakes for all parties. Hegde contended that the NEET UG-related reduction in exam centres from 1200 to 500 had an impact on the NEET PG exams. He pointed out that this reduction would necessitate normalising the two exams, which he considered to be inherently problematic.
The CJI expressed concern that rescheduling based on the petition would have a negative impact on 200,000 students and 400,000 parents, and that it would be unjust to jeopardise so many careers based on the actions of five petitioners. The CJI also commented on the lack of clarity surrounding the identities and motivations behind the petitions, emphasising the importance of a balanced approach in a diverse and complex society.
Hegde suggested that a brief pause may be beneficial in ensuring that the exams are conducted correctly. However, the CJI rejected this viewpoint, emphasising that the court’s priority was practical solutions rather than ideal ones. Finally, the bench dismissed the petition, stating that rescheduling was not an option.
Why was the petition filed?
A petition has been filed concerning the allocation of examination centers, which has posed significant logistical challenges for candidates.
The petition points out that test cities were allocated on July 31, 2024, with specific centers to be announced on August 8, 2024. While this scheduling aimed to deter malpractice, the petitioner argues that the short notice has rendered it nearly impossible for students to arrange their travel. With over two lakh students scheduled to take the exam across 185 test cities, the extensive distribution has led to difficulties in securing train tickets and a surge in airfares due to dynamic pricing. This situation has made it challenging for many students to reach their assigned test centers.
Furthermore, the petitioner requests the disclosure of the normalization formula for the four sets of question papers to ensure transparency and prevent any potential arbitrariness in the evaluation process. The petition states, “Given that the exams will be conducted in two batches and the normalization formula is unknown to the candidates, there is concern that one batch might face more difficult questions than the other.”
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