SC heard a petition filed by a group of students appearing in compartment/ private/ patrachar exams conducted by CBSE wanted a deferment of NEET exam scheduled on Sept 12. The top court refused while allowing the students to move a representation to the National Testing Agency, the authority that conducts the exam, in this regard. The Court directed NTA to decide on the representation expeditiously.
A bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar, Hrishikesh Roy and CT Ravikumar said that any decision to defer NEET will affect about 16 lakh students who have registered for the examination. Also, any deferment will clash with other exams.
The Court said that the students appearing in the CBSE exams need to make a choice which exam they intend to appear in. The students claimed that while NEET was on Sep 12, the CBSE Physics exam was falling on Sep 9 along with Odisha JEE.
The students pointed out that NTA had postponed JEE session 4 and a similar direction could be given with regard to NEET. The bench said, “If they are willing to do it, we won’t come in their way but do not use our platform to push them.” The Court noted that nearly 16 lakh students have burnt the midnight oil and any interference by this Court will cause “pain and strain” to lakhs of students.
The students requested the Court that if it was not inclined to defer the examination, an option of opt out could be given allowing students a second chance to attempt the examination. Advocate M Shoeb Alam for the students argued that last year such a facility was provided. They also complained about the changed pattern of the examination.
The bench refused to meddle with the examination policy and left it open for the students to move a representation with the concerned authority. NEET 2021 admit card is expected to be released on September 9.
