New Delhi/IBNS: The Supreme Court has asked the National Testing Agency (NTA) to "avoid flip-flops" in reference to the controversy over paper leak in the NEET-UG 2024, media reports said.

"We have highlighted all deficiencies in the structural processes... this we cannot afford for the betterment of the students," the top court said as quoted by NDTV.

The court said such "flip-flops" don't serve the students, who appear for the examination.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud gave a seven-member panel formed by the Centre time till September 30 to put forward its report.

"Report of committee to be submitted by September 30 to the government. The Ministry of Education shall report compliance of committee and decision to implement (measures) in two weeks," the court said as quoted by NDTV.

NEET-UG 2024 row

The controversy arose when 67 students achieved perfect scores of 720 in the NEET-UG exam.

The NTA said this happened as some candidates were awarded grace marks due to a faulty question and logistical delays in paper distribution at some centers.

However, a Bihar Police investigation revealed that the exam paper had been leaked to a select group of candidates.

The NEET-UG exam, taken by nearly 24 lakh aspiring medical students, was held on May 5, and the results were released on June 4.

Despite the NTA's efforts to manage the situation, allegations of a widespread leak continued with protests and legal actions nationwide.