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Synopsis

The National Testing Agency has on July 10, 2024 told the Supreme Court a Telegram video purportedly showing NEET UG, 2024 paper leakage a day before the examination held on May 5 was found to be fake.

In an affidavit, the agency said the video in question allegedly showed a photo of the exam paper leaked on Telegram on May 4, but one image, which was edited, displays a timestamp of 17:40 P.M. on May 5, 2024. 

Additionally, discussions within the Telegram channel indicate that members identified the video as fake. The timestamp was manipulated to create a false impression of an early leak, it said.

"Comments and discussions on social media further corroborate that the images in the video were edited, and the date was intentionally modified to suggest a May 4 leak. The screenshots highlight the fabricated nature of the claims made in the video," the agency said.

In response to the court's query made on July 8, the NTA said that it had withheld results of 17 candidates reported by the Bihar police to have been involved in "clandestinely committed criminal activity" of paper leakage.

"The assessment of their performance does not disclose much impact on the conduct of the exam at the said centre, and the performance of the students involved also is moderate to below average," it said.

The NTA, which conducted the examination on May 5 for admission to undergraduate courses in medical colleges, was answering to the court's question with regard to time lag between paper leakage and conduct of the test.

"The incident being a clandestinely committed criminal activity, the information in respect thereof also came through the media circles. The investigation was initially started by the Bihar Police and is now taken over by CBI. As per the Bihar Police report a list of suspected 17 Candidates was furnished to NTA. The NTA after following due process withheld the results of such candidates, after issuance of show cause notices," it said.

With regard to a list of 30 candidates provided by the district authorities in Godhra on suspicious activity, it said their results have also been withheld after issuance of show cause notice.

It also pointed out after the use of security measures in NEET (UG) 2024, 153 cases of Unfair Means (UFM) have been reported. The cases were placed before the UFM Committee, which submitted its recommendations for appropriate actions. The Committee, after due consideration and examination, recommended for the withholding of the results of 81 candidates and debarment of 54 candidates upto 3 years, it said.

"As on date, there are 16 FIRs which have been registered regarding NEET (UG) 2024, out of which 14 FIRs have been registered in different Exam Cities of NEET UG 2024 by the concerned Exam Functionaries at the behest of NTA (which excludes the FIRs registered by the Local Police/State Police on their own initiative, such as Bihar Police/EOU, Godhra Police, CBI, etc)," it said.

The agency termed the allegation that the students scoring high marks are only from certain centres as "completely unsubstantiated". 

"In this regard, the result of top 100 candidates was analysed and it has been reported that they are distributed across 95 centres located in 56 cities within 18 States/UTs of the country. This diverse distribution highlights the widespread participation and competitive spirit among students from different regions and educational backgrounds," it said.

The NTA also said the options being considered to replace the mode of conduct of examination subject to stake holder consultation and finalisation is conversion from pen and paper mode (OMR based) to computer-based test (CBT) mode. 

"Further options are also being explored simultaneously so as to perfectly obviate the occurrence of any malpractices that may affect the sanctity and integrity of the exam. In respect of modalities to be followed for identification of beneficiaries, it is submitted that the investigation by the CBI is already going on and the NTA would make inquiries from the city coordinators and other exam functionaries by seeking further information and take appropriate action," the bench said.

Cause Title: Vanshika Yadav Vs Union of India & Ors