The Supreme Court of India will hear a significant case on Friday, October 25th, focusing on the NEET PG 2024 exam results. The case stems from concerns raised by aspiring medical professionals about the transparency of the exam’s scoring and selection process. The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud, had previously directed the National Board of Education (NBE) to file a response to the petition on September 20th. An earlier notice was also issued to the education board on the plea.
The crux of the petition lies in the demand for the release of answer keys, question papers from the NEET-PG 2024 exam, and the standardization of marks. Petitioners argue that these measures are crucial to ensure transparency and fairness in the selection process for postgraduate medical courses, which are highly competitive and essential for the medical profession. The NEET-PG exam serves as the gateway to admission in postgraduate medical courses after the completion of MBBS and BDS degrees.
The results for NEET-PG 2024, announced on August 23rd, sparked widespread concern among students due to unexpectedly low rankings. Many students, after comparing their scores with unofficial answer keys, began to suspect discrepancies in the ranking process. This suspicion led to calls for the NBE to release official answer keys and establish a grievance portal to address their concerns.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has also weighed in on the issue, sending a letter to Union Health Minister JP Nadda in early October. The IMA, representing the interests of medical professionals across India, voiced concerns about the ongoing delay in the NEET PG 2024 counseling process, which is currently held up due to the Supreme Court case. The IMA stressed the immense distress caused by the delay to aspiring medical students who have worked tirelessly to qualify for postgraduate medical seats. They highlighted the impact of this uncertainty on both the students’ futures and the functioning of healthcare institutions, as the timely induction of postgraduate students is crucial to ensure the availability of medical professionals in hospitals and medical colleges.
The upcoming hearing in the Supreme Court holds immense significance for both medical students and the healthcare system in India. The court’s decision on the matter will have far-reaching implications for ensuring transparency and fairness in the NEET-PG 2024 selection process and potentially pave the way for timely counseling and the induction of qualified medical professionals into the healthcare system.