NTS paper leak: SHC issues notices on plea for fresh entry tests

NTS chairpersons, HEC, provincial health authorities told to file comments by Nov 8

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued on Friday notices to the National Testing Service (NTS) chairpersons, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and provincial health authorities on a petition seeking fresh entry tests for medical colleges after a question paper was leaked.

A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhtar, directed the federal and provincial law officers to submit comments of the authorities concerned by November 8.

The bench was hearing a petition seeking direction for the federal and provincial authorities concerned to conduct a fresh entry test for medical colleges in the province.

The petitioner, Imran Ali Pirzada, said that the question paper of the pre-admission test conducted by the NTS was leaked on October 21 in connivance with NTS staff to mint money.

He said that the leaking of the test paper a day before the exam amounted to the murder of merit. But, he alleged, that the government was unmoved to take action against the NTS staff for such an unlawful act.

The petitioner's lawyer, Imtiaz Ali, argued that the NTS test held on October 22 may be declared illegal after the paper was leaked. He also sought a direction for the government to hold the entry test afresh through a reputed testing agency for admission in MBBS and BDS college and university programmes.



The court was also pleaded to restrain the NTS from issuing a final merit list of the October 22 exam till the final disposal of the petition. Meanwhile, an order for an inquiry was also sought against the NTS official responsible for slipping the secret paper out.

On Friday, the petitioner's lawyer moved an application, seeking urgent hearing of the matter, saying the directives or orders, as the court may deem appropriate, may be passed to the respondent authorities at the earliest to save the time of the students.



After hearing initial arguments, the judge issued notices to the chairpersons of the NTS, the HEC, the provincial health secretary and vice-chancellors of all the medical colleges and universities in the province to file their comments in this regard.

The next hearing was fixed on November 8.