Supreme Court Delays Hearing on NEET-UG Re-Test Amid Controversy

Supreme Court's Decision on NEET-UG Re-Test

New Delhi: On Friday, the Supreme Court declined to expedite hearings on two petitions concerning the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, which is set for June 21.

A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice V Mohana announced that these cases would be addressed by Justice PS Narasimha's bench in July, coinciding with the court's return to its regular schedule after partial working days.

The Chief Justice remarked that all NEET-related matters would be directed to Justice Narasimha's bench when a lawyer requested an urgent hearing.

Previously, on May 12, the National Testing Agency (NTA) annulled the NEET-UG exam conducted on May 3 due to allegations of a paper leak.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently probing the incident, and a re-test is planned for June 21.

Advocate Adeel Ahmed highlighted a separate petition from students and NEET-UG candidates, requesting an urgent hearing.

The Supreme Court confirmed that this plea would also be reviewed by Justice Narasimha's bench, which is already handling related petitions.

The petition seeks a directive for the government to reassess the viability of holding the exam on June 21, considering the concerns raised by candidates.

It noted that petitioners have compiled representations from aspirants across various states and Union Territories.

These representations reveal a consistent set of concerns, including mental distress, anxiety, uncertainty from the exam's cancellation, insufficient preparation time, worries about the exam's integrity, scheduling conflicts with other tests, logistical challenges, and negative impacts on mental health.

The petition does not contest the decision to conduct a new examination but criticizes the 'arbitrary and unreasonable' scheduling of the re-test without allowing adequate preparation time.

The abrupt cancellation of the initial exam and the announcement of the re-test date have led to significant uncertainty and psychological strain among candidates.

The petition also mentions the troubling atmosphere surrounding the re-examination, characterized by ongoing rumors of paper leaks, alleged leaked question papers, and misinformation circulating on social media, necessitating repeated clarifications from authorities.

Reports have surfaced indicating serious mental health repercussions among NEET aspirants following the exam's cancellation and the surrounding controversy, including instances of suicides.

The petition calls for authorities to delay and reschedule the NEET-UG 2026 examination, allowing sufficient preparation time for all affected candidates.

During a hearing on May 29 regarding various NEET-UG 2026 petitions, the Supreme Court emphasized that the underlying issues related to the medical entrance exam would persist until 'actual accountability is established.'

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the court that the government is taking the concerns of the youth seriously, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally overseeing the situation to ensure 'no gaps' exist.

Mehta also mentioned that new measures have been implemented for the NEET-UG re-test scheduled for June 21.