Supreme Court today (May 25) expressed its anguish that the NEET-UG 2026 had to be cancelled over paper leak. The Court orally remarked that despite the directions issued by the Court in 2024 regarding the paper leak two years ago, the National Testing Agency(NTA) has not learned its lesson.

The Supreme Court today (May 25) expressed its anguish that the NEET-UG 2026 had to be cancelled over paper leak. The Court orally remarked that despite the directions issued by the Court in 2024 regarding the paper leak two years ago, the National Testing Agency(NTA) has not learned its lesson.

The issued notice on petitions filed by doctors and medical students seeking to replace the NTA, and sought a status report from the NTA on the steps taken as per the recommendations of the High-Powered Committee which was constituted, as per the Court’s 2024 judgment, to suggest measures to strengthen the NEET mechanism.

A bench comprising Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe considered the matter. The Court also ordered that a copy of all petitions should be served to the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. Advocate Tanvi Dubey and Dr. Charu Mathur appeared for the petitioners.

Justice Narasimha orally remarked: “We are so sad, they(NTA) haven’t learnt their lessons. We passed an order directing the constitution of a committee to give recommendations, which was accepted.”

It ordered: “We direct the NTA to file an affidavit indicating the position as regard to the monitoring committee constituted on 14 November, 2024. We also direct Dr K Radhakrishnan, the former chairman, to file an affidavit indicating the steps taken to ensure the compliance given by the High Powered Committtee that has given its report. The affidavit shall be filed within 3 days.”

The High-level Committee was constituted by the Union Government in the backdrop of the 2024 NEET UG leak. It was chaired by former ISRO chairman Dr K Radhakrishnan.

In 2024, the Supreme Court refused to cancel the exam in Vanshika Yadav v UOI, but Court passed various directions aimed at tackling the paper leak and also a criterion for cancelling public exams.

The Court had expanded the mandate of Dr Radhakrishnan’s committee and directed the committee to recommend reforms on examination security, transportation of papers, CCTV surveillance, candidate verification, encryption protocols, technological safeguards, real-time monitoring, grievance redressal and international best practices.

The Court specifically directed the committee to examine the viability of comprehensive CCTV surveillance, surprise inspections, secure transportation systems, digital tracking and stricter identity verification mechanisms.

The Union Government filed a report dated December 17, 2024 detailing the steps taken following the recommendations of the High-Level Committee of Experts (HLCE).

According to the compliance report, the HLCE recommended “Reformation of National Common Entrance Testing,” including strengthening of the NTA, institutional coordination with States, and involvement of specialised examination and knowledge partners.

The present petitions were filed in the backdrop of the NEET-UG 2026 cancellation.

One filed by the United Doctors Front (UDF) has sought dissolution of the NTA in light of its “systemic failure” in conducting NEET-UG 2026. She stated that over 23 lakh students appeared in the exam.

The petition, filed through Advocate Ritu Reniwal, seeks the creation of a statutory national testing body through legislation enacted by Parliament with defined legal powers, transparency norms, and direct accountability to the Legislature. The petitioner has also sought a court-monitored committee to oversee the transition of upcoming national examinations to ensure “zero-leak” integrity.

Another petition was filed by the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) seeking directions to replace or fundamentally restructure the NTA and to conduct a fresh NEET-UG 2026 examination under judicial supervision.

The UDF petition states that the recurring compromise of NEET examinations violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution and affects the futures of more than 22.7 lakh students. The plea highlights that despite assurances given by NTA regarding safeguards, the NEET UG 2026 examination was compromised.

The plea highlights that the NTA remains outside direct parliamentary scrutiny and mandatory Comptroller and Auditor General audits while continuing to discharge sovereign functions relating to national examinations. The petition also refers to the Supreme Court’s observations in Vanshika Yadav v. Union of India concerning NEET-UG 2024, where the Court had cautioned the NTA against “flip-flops” and administrative lapses.

It further relies on the recommendations of the K. Radhakrishnan Committee to reduce dependence on private vendors and shift towards computer-based or hybrid examination models. The plea contends that despite the enactment of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, the government failed to prevent organised cheating networks and paper leaks.

The petition states that the repeated examination leaks have caused psychological distress, financial hardship and uncertainty among students and families. It also highlights student suicides allegedly linked to examination-related stress.

Among other reliefs, the petition seeks directions to dissolve the NTA in its current form, enact legislation establishing a statutory national testing authority with defined transparency and accountability norms, and appoint a court-monitored committee for overseeing future national examinations.

Case Details: FEDERATION OF ALL INDIA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION v NATIONAL TESTING AGENCY AND ORS.|W.P.(C) No. 651/2026 and others