NEET 2021 Results Hearing Adjourned by Supreme Court

New Delhi: The hearing regarding the publication of results of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) 2021 couldn't be taken up by the Supreme Court bench today, and the bench has thus adjourned the matter till tomorrow.

Since another matter was posted for hearing during the post-lunch session and the top court bench couldn't take up the petition till 1 PM today, the matter would now be considered tomorrow, reports Livelaw.

A bench comprising of Justices L Nageswara Rao, Sanjiv Khanna, and BR Gavai are set to consider the urgent special leave petition filed by the National Testing Agency (NTA), which had challenged an earlier order of the Bombay HC directing the agency to conduct a fresh examination for two aspirants.

The urgency of declaring the results of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) 2021 was pointed out by the National Testing Agency (NTA), the authority in charge of conducting the test, which had moved to the Supreme Court against a Bombay HC order that had halted the process.

Also Read: NTA Moves SC seeking urgent hearing Against Bombay HC order Halting Declaration of NEET 2021 Results

The Bombay HC, while granting relief to 2 MBBS aspirants, had directed the NTA to conduct a fresh examination for them after it took note of the submission that those two aspirants had been handed question papers and answer sheets with incorrect serial numbers during the NEET examination 2021.

In the unprecedented order dated October 20, the Bombay HC had also directed NTA to declare the results of those candidates within two weeks along with the main results of the test that was held on September 12, and this had halted the timeline regarding the publication of NEET results.

The NTA, in its appeal, had said that the NEET (UG), 2021 Examination for more than 16 lacs candidates has been conducted on September 12, and due to the high court's order, it has not been able "to declare their results even though the same is ready for declaration".

The high court had taken note of the fact that the test booklet and OMR sheet of two medical aspirants got mixed up at the examination centre before the start of the test and ordered that they be given a fresh opportunity to appear.

Besides ordering re-examination and staying the declaration of the results, the court also directed that the NTA "shall give 48 hrs clear notice to the Petitioners about the date of examination and the centre allotted to the Petitioners".

"Respondent Nos. 1 and 2 are advised to frame appropriate Rules/guidelines for providing remedial measures in case of such difficulties that may arise in similar situations, in future, keeping in mind the interest and future of such students," the high court said.

As a result of the order of the Bombay HC order, the declaration of results was halted by NTA and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta mentioned the same before the Apex Court bench as he also pointed out the urgency of the matter.

The NEET Entrance Exam was conducted on September 12, for "16,14,777 candidates, involving 3,682 centres in 202 cities, 9,548 Centre Superintendents/ Deputy Superintendents, 5,615 Observers, 2,69,378 Invigilators and 220 City Co-ordinators", the NTA said in the plea.

The NTA, in its appeal, had said that the NEET (UG), 2021 Examination for more than 16 lacs candidates has been conducted on September 12, and due to the high court's order, it has not been able "to declare their results even though the same is ready for declaration".

"The delay in declaration of Result of NEET (UG) 2021 will affect and further delay the subsequent process of admission to Undergraduate Medical Courses i.e. MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BSMS, BUMS and BHMS Courses," it had said in the plea.

The court had asked the law officer to mention the case before the bench which has been hearing these cases and on being told that the matter was a fresh one, the bench agreed to consider an urgent listing.

"The declaration of the results of the NEET exam has been stayed at the behest of two students. I am requesting the hearing tomorrow," the law officer submitted before the bench.

"We will see," the bench had said.

As per the latest media report by Live Law, the matter couldn't be taken up by the Supreme Court bench before 1 PM today and as another matter was posted for hearing during the post-lunch session, the top court bench comprising of Justices L Nageswara Rao, Sanjiv Khanna, and BR Gavai adjourned the matter till tomorrow.

Also Read: HC directs NTA to conduct fresh NEET for 2 MBBS aspirants after invigilators goof-up