NEET-PG 2024 to Proceed as Scheduled on August 11, Supreme Court Dismisses Postponement Plea
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test - Post Graduate (NEET-PG) 2024 will take place as originally scheduled on August 11, following the Supreme Court’s decision to reject a petition seeking its postponement. The court, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, emphasized that postponing the exam would disrupt the careers of two lakh students.
Supreme Court’s Verdict on NEET-PG Postponement Request
During a hearing on August 9, a three-judge bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Mishra ruled against rescheduling the NEET-PG exam. The petitioners, represented by senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, argued that taking two different exams on the same day—one in the morning and another in the afternoon—would be challenging for candidates.
However, the bench dismissed the plea, stating:
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"We cannot formulate a new education policy, and this is not an ideal world."
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"Should we risk the careers of two lakh students for the sake of five petitioners?"
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"Postponing the exam will impact over four lakh students and parents."
Arguments Presented by Petitioners
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Petitioners expressed concerns about candidates being assigned distant and inconvenient examination centers, making travel difficult.
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They pointed out that exam cities were allotted on July 31, with special centers scheduled for announcement on August 8.
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They also highlighted that NEET-PG was already postponed once, as it was initially planned for June 23, 2024 but was deferred due to alleged irregularities in other exams.
Court’s Justification for Dismissing the Plea
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The Supreme Court reaffirmed that it is not an academic authority and cannot interfere with the scheduling of competitive exams.
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The bench noted a growing trend of seeking postponements, stating that frequent delays impact the entire academic system.
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It clarified that candidates must plan accordingly and that logistical challenges cannot be a reason for deferring national-level entrance exams.
Final Decision: NEET-PG 2024 Will Proceed as Planned
With the Supreme Court’s ruling, the NEET-PG exam will be conducted on August 11, 2024, without further delays. The Union Health Ministry had previously rescheduled the exam as a precautionary measure, but further postponement has now been ruled out.
Candidates are advised to prepare as per the official schedule and make necessary travel arrangements to reach their designated centers on time. The ruling ensures that the academic calendar remains on track, preventing disruptions in medical postgraduate admissions.
