On Friday, the Supreme Court of India rejected a plea seeking the postponement of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Postgraduate) (NEET-PG) examination scheduled for August 11, 2024. The bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, emphasized that rescheduling the exam was not an option.
Key Points from the Hearing:
- Court’s Stance: Chief Justice Chandrachud highlighted the significant impact of rescheduling on the two lakh students and their families, stating, “We cannot put the careers of so many candidates in jeopardy.” The bench, which also included Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, noted that such decisions cannot be made so close to the exam date.
- Petitioners’ Argument: Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, representing the petitioners, argued that the exam should be rescheduled due to logistical issues. The petitioners contended that the allocation of exam cities on July 31, with specific centres announced only on August 8, created significant inconvenience. They also pointed out that the exam was initially scheduled for June 23 but was postponed by the Union Health Ministry due to alleged irregularities in other exams.
- Court’s Response: The bench expressed that the current situation, with exams scheduled so close to the date, does not permit postponement. The Chief Justice commented on the frequent requests for exam postponements, stating that the court is not composed of academic experts to make such determinations.
The Supreme Court’s decision underscores the challenges in balancing the needs of a large number of candidates with logistical constraints and administrative decisions.
