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Supreme Court on Monday fell strict on the Central Government asking it “to put its house in order” in a plea challenging last moment changes in syllabus for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Super Speciality Exam 2021.

A divisional bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice BV Nagrathna noted that the students start preparing for the super speciality courses months in advance, what is the need to change the examination syllabus at the last minute.

The petition has been filed stating that “They have all along been preparing in terms of the pattern that has been in place for the last three years, especially because on earlier occasions -- 2018 and 2019 when changes in the pattern/scheme were proposed to be made, the changed pattern/scheme was made public almost six months prior to the Neet-SS exams to ensure availability of ample time to the students for making preparations.”

Earlier, the Court had issued notice while considering the submission of Senior Advocate Shyam Diwan that “In any event, such a change ought not to have been made after the examination was notified and candidates have already commenced their preparations for the ensuing examination.”

Senior Advocate Maninder Singh appearing for the National Board of Examination sought time to file its reply in the matter.

However, Justice DY Chandrachud said that the notice has been issued for the same. The bench further said that these young doctors cannot be treated like a football while directing the authority to hold a meeting and take a call on the issue.

The Court has asked the ASG Aishwarya Bhati to place a report before the bench by next Monday after holding a meeting with the concerned authorities.

Case Title: Prateek Rastogi and Ors. Vs. National Board of Examinations and Ors.