The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the Bombay HighCourt's order to reconduct the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)for two candidates, paving the way for the declaration of results of over 16lakh students who took the exam.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) had moved the top courtstating that the results were being delayed due to the high court's order.
A bench headed by Justice L. Nageswara Rao said: "Wecannot hold up the results of 16 lakh students."
The bench told the petitioner's counsel "stay andnotice. We will decide what happens to the two students upon reopening (afterDiwali vacation). In the meanwhile, we issue notice and file a counter".
The bench noted that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta,representing the Centre, has said whatever confusion is there, it will berectified.
"You are talking about your clients but notconsidering the lakhs of students who are waiting for the results," thebench told the petitioner's counsel.
In its plea, the NTA had challenged the Bombay High Courtorder to hold the NEET again for the two candidates from Solapur, who allegedthat their test booklet and OMR sheet got mixed up at the examination centrebefore the beginning of the test.
The NTA had contended in the apex court that due to thehigh court order, the declaration of the results of over 16 lakh students wasbeing delayed.
The high court had directed the NTA to hold a freshexamination of the two petitioners for the Academic Year 2021-2022 and declarethe results within weeks.