Supreme Court Dismisses Petition to Postpone NEET-PG Exam.

New Delhi, August 9, 2024 — The Supreme Court has rejected a petition filed by a group of students seeking to postpone the NEET-PG examination scheduled for Sunday, citing the risk it would pose to the careers of nearly 2 lakh candidates. The exam for post-graduate medical courses, originally planned for June 23, had already been postponed once due to the irregularities surrounding NEET-UG.

The petitioners argued that many candidates were assigned exam centers in cities that were difficult for them to access, stating that the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), the exam's conducting body, only informed them of the exam city on July 31. This short notice, coupled with the exam's two-session format and the unrevealed normalization score formula, prompted the petitioners to seek further postponement.

However, in a hearing held on Friday, the bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices Manoj Misra and JB Pardiwala refused to order the postponement. The court expressed its inability to alter the exam schedule just two days before the exam date, emphasizing the potential impact on a large number of candidates.

"How can we postpone such an exam? Nowadays, people just come asking to postpone the exam. It's not a perfect world. We are not academic experts," remarked the bench. The court underscored the importance of the exam for the nearly 2 lakh students and 4 lakh parents involved, stating, "We cannot put the careers of so many candidates at risk just because of these petitioners."

The NEET-PG exam was initially slated for June 23 but was postponed on the night of June 22 amid controversies surrounding the NEET-UG paper leaks. The government had announced the postponement after replacing the chief of the National Testing Agency, which conducts the undergraduate medical entrance exams. This decision was described as a precautionary measure to ensure the robustness of the NEET-PG examination processes.

The sudden change had inconvenienced many candidates who had already traveled to various cities to take the exam, with some bringing their families due to child care concerns.

Exam Logistics and Student Concerns

Students had raised concerns that information about specific exam centers was only provided on Thursday, mere days before the scheduled exam on Sunday. They argued that such short notice made it difficult for them to make necessary travel arrangements, especially when exam centers were located in unfamiliar cities.

Additionally, the students pointed out that the exam's two-session format lacked clarity on the normalization of scores, raising concerns about the fairness and transparency of the process.

The Supreme Court firmly stood its ground, emphasizing that the examination cannot be postponed merely due to logistical inconveniences faced by a few. The bench insisted on maintaining the scheduled exam date, highlighting the significance of the exam for thousands of candidates nationwide.

"There are 2 lakh students and 4 lakh parents who will be affected. We cannot put the careers of so many candidates at risk just because of these petitioners," stated the court, dismissing the plea for rescheduling.

As the NEET-PG exam approaches, the Supreme Court's decision underscores the importance of balancing individual concerns with the broader implications on candidates' futures. While logistical challenges remain, the court's ruling aims to prioritize the smooth conduct of the examination, ensuring that the majority of candidates can proceed with their academic pursuits without further delay.

Candidates are now preparing to appear for the exam on Sunday, with the NBEMS assuring that all necessary arrangements are in place to facilitate a fair and organized examination process.

Official website:-  https://nbe.edu.in/  

Read more about NEET Examination here:- https://www.studydekho.com/course/information/national-eligibility-cum-entrance-test-neet/55 

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