La prima udienza del tribunale di accelerazione del NEET si ferma mentre la CBI salta i procedimenti

The first hearing before Delhi's newly designated fast-track court for the NEET paper leak case ended without any substantive proceedings on Monday due to the absence of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) counsel. The court, presided over by Special Judge Anu Grover Baliga, was set to hear bail applications for two accused, Dinesh Biwal and Vikas Biwal. With no prosecutor representing the investigating agency present until 10:45 am, the judge recorded the absence in the order. The defense counsel requested that the matter be deferred, explaining that he had to appear in another case before the Rohini district courts. The judge accepted the request and adjourned the hearing to August 3. The court also instructed the director of prosecution to ensure that a public prosecutor is assigned for the next hearing. The fast-track court began functioning on Saturday after the Delhi High Court notified it as a specially designated court to try offenses under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, alongside related criminal cases. The establishment of the fast-track court followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement that dedicated courts would be created to expedite trials in paper leak cases. The NEET paper leak case had previously been handled by Special Judge Ajay Gupta, who extended the judicial custody of all 13 accused until August 6 and rejected the bail plea of paediatrician Dr Manoj Bhagwanrao Shirure. The court observed that the investigation indicated Shirure was "one of the active conspirators of an organised paper leak gang." The controversy arose after allegations of irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) conducted on May 3. Following widespread protests, the National Testing Agency (NTA) canceled the examination on May 12 and conducted a re-test on June 21 for affected candidates. The fast-track court was designated to handle criminal cases related to paper leaks and the use of unfair means in public examinations. Judge Baliga took charge of the court on Saturday. The Delhi High Court issued a notification on July 23 appointing Baliga's court as a "Specially Designated Fast Track Court" to hear offenses under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, along with related offenses. Before the case was transferred to the designated court, Special Judge Ajay Gupta was handling the matter. On Friday, he extended the judicial custody of all 13 accused until August 6. The court also rejected the bail plea of accused paediatrician Dr Manoj Bhagwanrao Shirure, noting that the investigation had prima facie indicated that he was "one of the active conspirators of an organised paper leak gang." The NEET-UG examination was canceled by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 12 following a paper leak in the test conducted on May 3 for medical admissions. A re-examination was later conducted on June 21 for affected candidates. A tragic incident occurred during this period when a 19-year-old medical aspirant allegedly died by suicide at her home in Jalalpur village in Maharashtra's Ahilyanagar district after reportedly becoming distressed over her score in the NEET re-examination. Police said the student had secured 166 marks in the NEET re-test and allegedly missed the qualifying cutoff of 177 by 11 marks. Her family claimed she had been under severe mental stress after failing to secure the marks she had hoped for. Her uncle told reporters that she had been battling depression over the result and that a suicide note was recovered from her room. The note reportedly stated that she had scored 166 marks against the cutoff of 177 and was devastated that her dream of becoming a doctor had remained unfulfilled. She also mentioned that her parents and brother should not be held responsible for her death. The incident took place on Saturday afternoon while the student's father and brother were away on a pilgrimage to Pandharpur. Her mother, who was at home doing household chores, was present at the time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promise of fast-track courts for paper leak cases has sparked skepticism, particularly regarding the progress in older cases like the 2024 NEET paper leak. Despite assurances of swift trials, the trial in the 2024 case has yet to begin. The Central Bureau of Investigation cleared the name of a key accused, Sanjeev Mukhiya, stating that it had not found evidence against him. Politicians have questioned the effectiveness of these measures, with Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh criticizing the government for using fast-track courts as a political tool. He pointed out that the CBI had not provided evidence against the accused, raising doubts about the integrity of the process. Following the NEET paper leak, the National Testing Agency (NTA) terminated 47 officials and began a major overhaul of its workforce, focusing on cybersecurity, forensic investigation, and test-center operations. The decision followed the cancellation of the NEET-UG examination on May 3, forcing nearly 20 lakh candidates to retake the test on June 21. The termination of officials included those involved in the leak, with some facing legal and criminal action. The NTA also planned to appoint four General Managers and 16 Young Professionals through the UPSC’s PRATIBHA Setu portal. The changes aimed to reduce reliance on temporary staff and enhance operational efficiency. The overhaul included new roles such as a Chief Information Security Officer and a leader for malpractice inquiries. The NTA also introduced computer-based testing for NEET-UG starting in 2027, moving away from OMR-based exams to improve security and reduce paper movement. The Supreme Court has expressed concern over the ongoing issues surrounding the NEET paper leak, instructing the central government to monitor the situation closely. A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in addressing the leak and its aftermath. The court's directive underscores the gravity of the situation and the expectation for prompt and effective resolution. As the fast-track court prepares for its next session, the focus remains on ensuring justice for the victims and maintaining the integrity of national examinations.