New Delhi: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has moved a privilege notice against Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, accusing him of making “derogatory” remarks against a Parliamentary committee amid the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy.
Ramesh, Congress party’s chief whip in the Rajya Sabha, submitted the privilege notice against Pradhan, alleging that his comments had lowered the dignity of Parliament and showed “contempt” towards Parliamentary committees.
“I have given notice of a question of privilege under Rule 187 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States against the Union Minister of Education for having lowered the dignity of Parliament and Parliamentary Committees. He has made these outrageous remarks while presiding over the rot in the education ministry that is destroying the future of lakhs of youths across the country,” Ramesh stated in a post on X.
The “outrageous remarks” Ramesh refers to were made by Pradhan during a press conference on May 15, three days after the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination following allegations of a paper leak.
According to Ramesh, Pradhan was asked why the Education Ministry had not implemented recommendations made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education regarding reforms in the NTA.
Ramesh quoted Pradhan as saying, “I will not comment on parliamentary standing committee red flags. The parliamentary standing committee has members from the opposition. They write things in a certain manner.”
Ramesh accused the Education minister of insulting Parliament and its committees.
The Congress leader said it is well established that any derogatory references to Parliamentary committees or members of Parliamentary committees constitute a “gross contempt” of such committees, which in turn constitutes contempt of the House.
“I, therefore, request that privilege proceedings be initiated against Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education, in this matter,” Ramesh said in his notice.
I have given notice of question of privilege under Rule 187 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States against the Union Minister of Education for having lowered the dignity of Parliament and Parliamentary Committees. He has made these outrageous… pic.twitter.com/UdkFW6g1tc
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 18, 2026
A Parliamentary panel is reviewing the implementation of reforms in NTA, has summoned NTA Chairperson Pradeep Kumar Joshi and other bureaucrats following the NEET-UG paper leak.
The Parliamentary standing committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports will be seeking views of top Education ministry officials on the paper leak and reforms in the NTA on May 21.
The panel, headed by Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, has summoned Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education, and NTA chairperson Pradeep Joshi.