PTC Web Desk: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices on petitions related to the NEET-UG examination and raised concerns over whether reforms suggested after earlier controversies in the exam system were actually implemented.

Around 23 lakh students appeared for the NEET-UG examination this year, which is conducted for admission to medical courses across the country.

Petitioners seek urgent hearing

During the hearing, advocate Tanvi Dubey, appearing for the petitioners, told the Court that the matter was urgent because it directly affected lakhs of medical aspirants.

She requested the Bench to hear the matter at the earliest due to the large number of students involved in the examination process.

The Court issued notices in the main case as well as connected petitions. It also directed that copies of the petitions be provided to the Solicitor General of India.

Court raises questions over earlier reforms

While hearing the matter, the Bench expressed disappointment over the way previous reform measures appeared to have been handled. The judges remarked that authorities seemed not to have learned from past mistakes despite the Court earlier setting up a committee to improve the examination system and monitoring process.

The Court’s observations came in the backdrop of earlier controversies linked to NEET examinations.

NTA asked to file affidavit

The Supreme Court directed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to submit an affidavit within three days.

The affidavit must explain the current status of the monitoring committee that had been constituted on November 14 to oversee reforms and examination safeguards.

Monitoring committee also directed to respond

The Bench also asked J. Radhakrishna to file details of the steps taken to implement the recommendations made by the high-powered committee formed earlier by the Court. The judges said both affidavits must be submitted within three days.

Matter to come up again after affidavits

The case is expected to be heard again after the affidavits are filed.

The Court is likely to examine whether the authorities properly implemented the safeguards and reforms promised after previous concerns surrounding the NEET examination system.

- With inputs from agencies

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