The Supreme Court on Friday urged the Centre to institutionalize the entire NEET examination machinery with permanent staff, verticals, and procedures rather than relying on temporary committees. During the hearing, a bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe stressed that committee recommendations must become working structures rather than stalling as paper reports, and questioned whether statutory backing for a standing testing body is required.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that a reform panel led by Nandan Nilekani had completed wide consultations, with a first interim report expected by the end of September following talks with the earlier Radhakrishnan committee. The judges directed the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) joint secretary coordinating the task force to file a progress affidavit within two weeks.
Justice Narasimha also stated that the bench wants to visit the National Testing Agency’s upgraded Minto Road facility to inspect the systems in person. The hearing stems from petitions concerning NEET paper-leak controversies and demands from medical associations and other petitioners to restructure or replace the NTA, implement computer-based testing, ensure tighter paper custody, and establish clearer parliamentary oversight.