The SC Dismisses Plea to Postpone NEET-PG Exam (NEET-PG) exam, which is scheduled to be conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) on August 11, 2024.
The case was reviewed by a bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.
Petitioners argued that many NEET-PG candidates had been allocated exam centers in cities that are difficult to access, leading to logistical challenges for the aspirants.
They claimed that this would unfairly disadvantage candidates who might face significant travel difficulties, affecting their performance in the highly competitive NEET-PG exam.
In response, the Supreme Court dismissed the plea, emphasizing the broader implications of rescheduling such an important examination. The bench underscored that postponing the NEET-PG exam at this stage would disrupt the plans of approximately two lakh candidates and their families.
The CJI remarked, “How can we postpone such an exam? Mr. Sanjay Hegde, nowadays people just come asking to postpone the exam. It’s not a perfect world. We are not academic experts. As a matter of principle, we will not reschedule the exam.
There are two lakh students and four lakh parents who will weep over the weekend if we postpone it. We cannot put the careers of so many candidates in jeopardy. We do not know who is behind these petitions.”
The bench’s firm stance reflects the judiciary’s recognition of the critical nature of the NEET-PG exam, which serves as the gateway for medical graduates to secure postgraduate seats in various specialties across India.
Given the intense competition and the importance of timely examinations, any delay could potentially affect the entire academic calendar, thereby impacting future batches of medical students as well.
The ministry took this decision as a precautionary measure amid ongoing discussions about maintaining fairness and transparency in the examination process.
As the NEET-PG exam approaches, candidates are now focusing on their final preparations, with the assurance that the exam will proceed as planned on August 11, 2024.
The Supreme Court’s decision marks a significant moment, reinforcing the importance of adhering to scheduled examination dates in the interest of students’ careers and the overall academic timeline.
Shashi Rai
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