Digital locking, re-structure NTA and more: What NEET paper leak petitions in Supreme Court want

Multiple petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, with petitioners seeking sweeping structural reforms in the conduct of the medical entrance examination.

The pleas come after the Union government and the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled NEET-UG 2026 held on May 3.

This was after allegations of a widespread paper leak and an ongoing Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.

Federation of All India Medical Association - replace NTA, have computer-based test

One of the petitions before the top court, filed by the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), seeks replacement or restructuring of the NTA and asks the Supreme Court to direct re-conduct of NEET-UG 2026 under the supervision of a judicially appointed committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge.

The plea also seeks reforms including “digital locking” of question papers, transition to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) model and publication of centre-wise results to detect anomalies.

United Doctors Front - dissolve NTA, digitally lock question paper

Another petition, filed by the United Doctors Front, attacks the legal structure of the NTA itself and seeks its dissolution in the present form.

The plea argues that the NTA, being a society registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860, lacks direct parliamentary accountability and functions in what it describes as an “accountability vacuum.”

Thus, the plea has sought a direction to the Union government to establish a statutory national testing body through legislation passed by Parliament.

The petition claims the recurring paper leak controversies violate Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution by compromising merit-based selection and affecting the careers of over 22 lakh candidates.

It also relies on reports of a “guess paper” racket allegedly uncovered by the Rajasthan Police Special Operations Group (SOG), which reportedly found substantial overlap between a circulated document and the actual NEET-UG 2026 paper.

The plea further states that despite recommendations made after the NEET-UG 2024 controversy, including by the K Radhakrishnan Committee, meaningful reforms were not implemented.

Among the measures sought are transition to CBT or hybrid examination models, digital locking of question papers and constitution of a court-monitored committee to oversee future national examinations.

RJD MP and others - computer-based test, encrypted digital paper transmission, biometric verification

A separate plea has also been filed by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Sudhakar Singh, social activist Anubhav Garg, Indian Medical Association national spokesperson Dhruv Chauhan and political leader Harisharan Devgan.

Their petition specifically seeks immediate transition of NEET-UG to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format, including for the re-examination scheduled on June 21, 2026.

The petitioners have asked the Court to direct the authorities to prepare a time-bound roadmap for shifting NEET fully to CBT mode, including infrastructure development, cybersecurity mechanisms and accessibility arrangements for candidates.

They have also sought replacement of the NTA with a new independent examination authority having statutory accountability, judicial oversight and technological safeguards.

Further prayers include implementation of encrypted digital paper transmission systems, biometric verification and AI-based surveillance systems in national examinations.

The matters are yet to be listed for hearing before the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the re-examination for NEET is scheduled to be held on June 21.