Besides, it expanded the remit of the Centre-appointed panel headed by Isro ex-chairman K Radhakrishnan to enable it to recommend measures to ensure security, sanctity and integrity of pan-India exams.It asked for the report be submitted by Sept 30. The SC criticised National Testing Agency for its laxity and flip-flops. “By identifying and rectifying vulnerabilities, such a panel will help restore trust in the exam system and implement robust safeguards,” it said.
SC: NTA can’t afford to take wrong step & amend later
Pronouncing a 63-page judgment detailing reasons for its refusal on July 23 to cancel NEET-UG, a bench of CJI D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said, “By identifying and rectifying vulnerabilities, such a committee will help restore trust in the examination system and implement robust safeguards to prevent future malpractice.” It faulted NTA for failing to communicate in time to designated banks for release of a particular set of question papers, resulting in candidates getting a wrong set.
“A body such as NTA, which is entrusted with immense responsibility in relation to highly important competitive exams, cannot afford to misstep, take an incorrect decision and amend it at a later stage. All decisions must be well considered, with due regard to the importance of the decision. Flip-flops are an anathema to fairness,” the CJI said.
Though the bench spared 23.3 lakh students having to take NEET-UG afresh, as demanded by petitioners, it faulted NTA for failing to communicate in time to designated banks for release of a particular set of question papers, resulting in candidates getting a wrong set.
The apex court also held NTA responsible for awarding full marks for two options to an atomic theory question when it was clear that only one of the options was correct, as was later reaffirmed by IIT-Delhi. Further, it criticised NTA’s decision to award grace marks resulting in over 60 candidates scoring perfect 720/720 marks.
Authoring the judgment, CJI Chandrachud said the Radhakrishnan committee must evaluate and recommend reforms in the mechanism of administration of exams, which must include rigorous checks and balances at every stage, from setting question papers to declaring results. It extended the panel’s tenure from Aug 22 to Sept 30, by when it must submit its recommendations to education ministry.
SC said the Dharmendra Pradhan-headed ministry shall take a decision on the committee’s recommendations within a month of receiving the report.
The bench said the committee would also formulate SOPs which set out the timelines for registration, changes to preferred cities, sealing of OMR sheets once candidates submit them to the invigilator, and other processes related to conduct of the exam. “Once adopted by NTA, the SOPs must be adhered to, to maintain the integrity of the exam,” it said.