GUWAHATI: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre to file a progress report on the Nandan Nilekani-led high-powered committee examining reforms to strengthen the integrity of competitive examinations.
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A Bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe directed the Joint Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), coordinating with the committee to file an affidavit on the progress made within two weeks. The matter will be listed after three weeks.
The Bench also said it would visit the National Testing Agency (NTA) headquarters to examine its systems, manpower and functioning.
“We will come there one day, myself and my brother,” Justice Narasimha said.
The Court was informed that the NTA now has a separate permanent office near Minto Road. Justice Narasimha said the judges would inspect the facility to determine whether the required systems and manpower were in place.
“We’ll come and see whether the system is actually in place, whether it is working or not working, manpower, all these things,” the judge said.
The Bench said at least half of the NTA staff should be permanent and not entirely on deputation from other departments. It also raised questions about the agency’s coordination with other institutions, data management and the need for statutory backing.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Court that the Nilekani-led committee had conducted extensive consultations and was likely to submit its report by the end of September.
The Bench stressed that the recommendations should result in institutional changes and implementation rather than remain confined to a committee report.
“Progress is one matter. What are the suggestions made? Most important is institutionalisation of it,” the Bench said, referring to the earlier Radhakrishnan Committee.
Mehta said the government remained committed to implementing the recommendations.
The Court also stressed the need to consider inputs from domain experts while undertaking reforms in the examination system.
The hearing was part of proceedings on a batch of petitions related to question paper leak allegations linked to the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).
The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), through advocate Tanvi Dubey, has sought the replacement or restructuring of the NTA. Its plea also seeks digital locking of question papers, a shift to computer-based testing (CBT) and publication of centre-wise results to identify anomalies.