New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has dismissed a petition by a National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Under Graduate) (NEET-UG) candidate alleging ‘out-of-syllabus’ question in the entrance examination, saying when academic and subject experts of the National Testing Agency (NTA) have opined that the impugned question has been prepared from the prescribed syllabus of NEET (UG)-2024, it cannot doubt the wisdom of the experts and substitute its opinion.
The petitioner claimed that one question in the physics section was based on ‘radioactivity’ when ‘radioactivity topic’ was not a part of the syllabus for NEET-UG 2024.
What did the High Court say?
The High Court noted that the questions in dispute had been placed before subject experts constituted by the exam conducting authority, NTA, and the subject experts have given their opinion on the questions in dispute and they have opined that the syllabus includes “composition and size of nucleus” and “atomic masses” in Unit No. 18 under the chapter “Atoms and Nuclei”.
“The subject experts have negated the challenge of the petitioner. Therefore, this court is of the opinion that it cannot substitute its own understanding for that of the experts, who are better equipped to address the complexities and nuances of the subject,” Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said and added, “Courts are not experts in the subject matter and should only adjudicate based on the law on the subject and its application in the facts and circumstances of the particular case.”
What did the petitioner seek?
The petitioner sought declaration of question in the physics section as either incorrect or dropped question in terms of the information bulletin of NEET (UG)-2024 and a direction that four marks be granted to all the candidates irrespective of whether the question was attempted or not. The petitioner also prayed that in respect of question number 23, it be declared that option 1 is the only correct option and grant of prescribed marks for question no. 23 to the candidates marking option 3 also as the correct option be disallowed.
“This court is of the opinion that when academic and subject experts of NTA have opined that the impugned question has been prepared from the prescribed syllabus of NEET (UG)-2024, this court cannot doubt the wisdom of the experts and substitute its opinion in place of the same.” the High Court said.
The High Court also dismissed two separate petitions by two other candidates, who claimed that the answers to certain questions were wrongly recorded.
Supreme Court on July 23 refused to cancel NEET-UG 2024
The Supreme Court on July 23 had refused to cancel the NEET-UG 2024, saying cancellation of the exam is not justified and “at the present stage, there is an absence of material on record to show that NEET-UG result stands vitiated or a systemic breach affected the sanctity of exam.” The top court had further said that directing a fresh NEET-UG exam would be replete with serious consequences for two million students, including disruption of the admission schedule for commencement of medical courses, cascading effects on course of medical education and on availability of qualified professionals for future.