NEET 2017 exam not to be nullified: SC

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to "nullify" the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) 2017 exam, saying it would affect over six lakh candidates who have passed the test to join medical and dental courses.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said it would be "very difficult" to disturb the results of NEET as around 6.11 lakh candidates, out of a total of 11.35 lakh aspirants, have cleared it and the counselling process was on. "We cannot pass an interim order like this. The admission process must continue. There are over six lakh students," the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and M M Shantanagoudar, said.

"In any case, it is very difficult to disturb the result," it said while refusing to accept the submission of counsel appearing for the petitioners who said that three sets of question papers were given to the candidates in the exam in Andhra Pradesh. The counsel contended that NEET 2017 examination has to be "nullified" and conducted afresh. Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, appearing for CBSE, opposed the contentions saying besides English and Hindi, the exam was conducted in eight vernacular languages for the first time.