Supreme Court mandates specific segment for disabled students on NEET exam brochure

The Supreme Court has ruled that the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) examination brochure must contain a specific segment for candidates with disabilities to inform them of the benefits available to them.The court added that the National Testing Agency (NTA) should train their invigilators on how to deal with disabled students.

The bench was hearing a plea filed by a student suffering from visually impaired dysgraphia. She was not allowed an additional one hour to complete the exam and the answer sheet was snatched by the invigilator.

The student argued that she either wanted a reexamination or grace marks. Advocate Rushabh Vidyarthi, appearing for the student, argued that she scored over 90% marks in classes 10 and 12. If she had gotten another hour to finish NEET, her future might have changed.

Advocate Rupesh Kumar who appeared for the NTA argued that it has little control at the ground level. The result for the examination in question has already been declared. He also said that it is difficult to conduct an exam for one student or award grace marks because the entire merit list will have to change. Kumar added that the agency has webinars for the invigilators but still at the ground level, the situation is sometimes unmanageable.

Around 16 lakh students had taken the examination. The top court agreed that it would not be appropriate to conduct a re-examination for just one student.

The Supreme Court bench said that they realise that there are many unseen students who will be affected unless relief is granted. The bench declared that it would ask the NTA and NEET to include a specific segment in the brochure for disabled students.

"We are conscious of the fact that this child may lose a year. It was very heart-wrenching. Medical education is nowadays so competitive. There should be something for them (disabled students)," said the court.