Supreme Court Directs Centre, NTA to Detail NEET-UG Paper Leak Reforms, Vows Close Monitoring

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Friday directed the central government to file a detailed affidavits on the "progress made in the implementaion" of reforms meant to address NEET-UG paper leak. The court said that it will "closely monitor" the progress "throughout the year" to ensure "institutionalisation takes place". The top court has also asked the National Testing Agency (NTA) to file the affidavits. A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe said the affidavit must explain the steps taken to institutionalise the reforms instead of relying on ad hoc measures. Justice Narasimha noted that the deployment of the Indian Air Force (for safe transportation of questions) after the paper leak was only an ad hoc measure and could not be a permanent solution. "We will closely monitor it. We will ensure institutionalisation takes place. We will monitor it throughout the year", the Court said while posting the matter for next Monday. The court, according to news agency ANI, also sought details on the proposed governing board, expert-led units, stakeholder nominations and the implementation of the High-Powered Committee’s recommendations across ten verticals, including digital infrastructure, security, research and development, transparency, administration and human resources. It also asked the Centre to explain the role and progress of the newly appointed Additional Directors General for security, monitoring and vigilance. The bench also sought a status report on reforms at every stage of the examination cycle — pre-exam, during the exam and post-exam. The top court has asked the Centre to explain the progress made on testing modalities with State and district authorities, multiple-session examinations, examination centres, question papers, printing and transportation. The Court also sought details on the proposal to shift to Computer-Based Testing and the safeguards for data protection. The Court also asked the Centre to explain its proposal on technologies such as DigiYatra for candidate verification. Observing that the Union’s affidavit has not addressed these issues, the Court accepted Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s assurance that a fresh affidavit would be filed.