The Supreme Court on Friday said that the problem of examination paper leaks cannot be solved unless responsibility is fixed and those responsible are held accountable. The Court made the observation while hearing petitions related to the NEET UG 2026 paper leak controversy.
A bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe expressed concern over the repeated occurrence of paper leaks despite earlier directions and reforms introduced after previous controversies. The judges noted that structural changes alone would not be enough if accountability is not ensured.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court also highlighted the impact of such incidents on students. The Court said that paper leaks cause serious distress to lakhs of young aspirants who spend years preparing for competitive examinations and deserve a fair and transparent system.
“We should not disappoint our youngsters,” the bench said while hearing pleas on the matter.
"The real problem won't stop till actual accountability arises,” the bench observed.“It is actually very traumatic if something like this happens, not just for the students, but also their families and everybody,” the bench said, adding, “They invest so much emotion.”
Representing the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that the government is taking the matter seriously and that several reforms have already been implemented. The National Testing Agency (NTA) also submitted details of measures taken to strengthen examination security and prevent future breaches. Mehta told the bench that some new mechanisms have been put in place for the NEET UG re-test scheduled for June 21.
"Prime minister is personally supervising so that there is no lacunae," Tushar Mehta added.
On May 12, the NTA cancelled the NEET UG examination held on May 3 after allegations of a paper leak surfaced. A re-examination has been scheduled for June 21, while the alleged leak is currently being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The Supreme Court directed the Centre and the NTA to continue providing details of reforms and accountability measures. The matter remains under consideration as the Court monitors efforts to restore confidence in the country’s examination system.
