The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a petition seeking postponement of the NEET-PG 2024 exam, which is scheduled for August 11th. The bench, comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, declined to hear the plea, stating that they couldn’t jeopardize the careers of 200,000 students based on the request of only five petitioners. The court emphasized the need for certainty in such crucial matters.
The petition, which reportedly received support from around 50,000 students, raised two primary concerns. Firstly, several NEET-PG 2024 candidates were assigned test centers that were difficult to reach. Secondly, the exam is being administered in two batches, raising concerns about potential unfairness due to the lack of clarity regarding the normalization process.
During the hearing, advocate Sanjay Hegde represented the petitioners. He argued that the reduction in NEET UG exam centers from 1200 to 500 had implications for the NEET PG exams, necessitating normalization procedures that he considered problematic.
However, the CJI countered that rescheduling based on the petition would negatively impact not only the 200,000 students but also their 400,000 parents. He emphasized the importance of a balanced approach in a diverse society, expressing concern about the lack of clarity surrounding the identities and motivations behind the petitions.
Hegde proposed a brief pause to ensure the exams were conducted fairly, but the CJI rejected this suggestion, prioritizing practical solutions over ideal ones. Ultimately, the bench dismissed the petition, concluding that rescheduling was not an option. The court’s decision emphasizes the importance of ensuring a fair and predictable process for the vast majority of students while acknowledging the concerns raised by a smaller group of petitioners.
