New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought an expert opinion from IIT Delhi to resolve the issue of an ambiguous Physics question which led to the award of grace marks in NEET-UG 2024 exam.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud asked the experts’ panel to submit its report by Tuesday noon when the top court will continue hearing a batch of petitions in connection with alleged irregularities in the medical college entrance exam conducted on May 5.
“We request Director, IIT Delhi to constitute a team of three experts of the subject concerned. The expert team will formulate its response and submit it to the register by 12 noon tomorrow,” the CJI said.
The court asked the experts to give one correct answer.
As many as 44 NEET-UG 2024 toppers were awarded grace marks due to the ambiguity of the specific question in Physics paper.
During the hearing, the counsel for a petitioner who got 711 marks challenged a question which had ambiguous options. The petitioner pointed out that option 4 of the question was the right answer, according to updated edition of NCERT book. However, those who chose option 2 were also awarded grace marks as it was correct as per the previous editions of NCERT book.
The petitioner argued that she didn’t attempt that particular question to avoid negative marking, but the 44 candidates who opted for either of the two options were given full marks by National Testing Agency (NTA).
Chief Justice Chandrachud’s reaction was: “The instructions are that go by the latest NCERT edition. Option 4 is the correct answer as per the latest NCERT edition. Then those who answered option 2 cannot be given full marks. There, I think they may have a point.”
The CJI asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for NTA, why the exam-conducting panel decided to award marks to candidates who opted for either of the two options.
“Both were possible answers,” the Solicitor General replied.
The Chief Justice shot back, saying, “By giving marks to option 2, you are going against your own rule that old edition can’t be followed.”
Noting the counsel’s argument that over 4 lakh students benefitted by marking option 2 of the said question, the CJI said, “You have to choose either option. Both can’t co-exist.
The petitioners submitted that if re-test can’t be ordered for all candidates, at least those who have qualified – about 13 lakh students – should be asked to re-appear.
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