The Supreme Court of India has waded into the controversy surrounding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), issuing a notice to the National Testing Agency (NTA) over reported discrepancies in the exam results. In a blow to student protesters, the court has refused to stay the ongoing counseling process for medical admissions.

A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, made the order on Friday, responding to a batch of petitions alleging irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024 results. The petitions claimed that question papers were leaked and answer keys were manipulated.

The court, however, made it clear that it would not halt the counseling procedure. “We cannot keep the entire admission process in limbo,” the Chief Justice remarked. “The stakeholders include lakhs of students who have cleared the exam and are waiting for their future.”

The government, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, argued that staying counseling would cause “irreparable harm” to students. The bench agreed, noting that any stay could only be considered after a thorough examination of evidence.

This development adds to the mounting pressure on the NTA. Over the past weeks, allegations have surfaced regarding inflated scores and inconsistent rankings. Students across India, especially from states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, have taken to the streets demanding a re-test.

In a press release earlier this week, the NTA denied all accusations. It claimed that the results were generated through a “robust and transparent” process. “Every precaution has been taken to ensure data integrity. Sporadic complaints are being investigated individually,” the agency stated.

Despite this, the petitions filed by affected candidates and parents have gained traction. They point to anomalies such as multiple candidates with identical scores in the 99.99th percentile, and discrepancies between the test and answer key release dates.

A parent of a NEET aspirant, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The British Wire: “My son scored 720 out of 720. But on the rank list, there are dozens with the same score. The honor of merit is gone.”

The court has now asked the NTA to submit detailed affidavits by the first week of August. The NTA must also explain the methodology used to arrive at the results, including any normalization procedures.

This case has raised broader questions about the credibility of high-stakes examinations in India. The NEET is the gateway for medical and dental seats across the country. Every year, over 1.8 million students sit for the exam.

Legal experts say the apex court’s refusal to stay counseling suggests that the bench is wary of disrupting the academic calendar. “The court is balancing individual grievances against systemic chaos. That’s a tough call,” said Dr. Ameen Jauhar, a constitutional lawyer based in Delhi.

The Supreme Court has listed the matter for further hearing in late August. Until then, the allocation of seats to the 1.8 million successful candidates will proceed as planned.

For students like Ravi Sharma, a candidate from Rajasthan, the wait is agonizing. “We just want a fair chance. If there is any problem, we should all be tested again. Not just a few,” he said.

The NTA, however, remains firm. In its statement, it warned of legal action against those “spreading false rumors.” The agency has until the next hearing to convince the Supreme Court of its integrity.