NEET paper leak case: Privilege motion moved against Dharmendra Pradhan

NEW DELHI: Already facing calls to resign implicit the NEET-UG 2026 insubstantial leak, Union acquisition curate Dharmendra Pradhan whitethorn present person to look privilege proceedings successful the Rajya Sabha aft a announcement was submitted against him for allegedly lowering the dignity of Parliament done remarks made astatine a property league pursuing the insubstantial leak.Congress main whip successful the Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh connected Monday moved the announcement against Pradhan, accusing him of making “derogatory” comments against a parliamentary committee that, according to Ramesh, “reveal his contempt for Parliament.”"I person fixed announcement of a question of privilege nether Rule 187 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business successful the Council of States against the Union Minister of Education for having lowered the dignity of Parliament and Parliamentary Committees.

He has made these outrageous remarks portion presiding implicit the rot successful the acquisition ministry that is destroying the aboriginal of lakhs of youths crossed the country," the Congress person wrote successful an X post, sharing a transcript of his notice.

Ramesh added that it is “well established” that immoderate derogatory notation to parliamentary committees oregon their members amounts to “gross contempt” of specified panels and, by extension, contempt of the House.

“I, therefore, petition that privilege proceedings beryllium initiated against Shri Dharmendra Pradhan successful this matter,” helium stated successful the notice.Pradhan made the alleged derogatory remarks astatine a property league connected May 15, 3 days aft the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 exam pursuing the insubstantial leak.At the aforesaid property conference, Pradhan announced that the re-test volition beryllium held connected June 21 and said that, from adjacent year, the aesculapian entranceway introspection volition beryllium conducted successful online mode.According to Ramesh, Pradhan was asked by journalists wherefore the acquisition ministry had not implemented recommendations made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee connected Education successful its study connected the NTA.“To this question, the curate responded arsenic follows: ‘I volition not remark connected parliamentary lasting committee reddish flags. I volition talk astir the High-Level Committee of Experts/Radhakrishnan Committee. The parliamentary lasting committee has members from the opposition.

They constitute things successful a definite manner, you besides cognize that. Hence, I won't talk connected the lasting committee,’” Ramesh wrote.“Parliamentary committees are an hold of the Parliament of India, and are rightly referred to arsenic mini-Parliament. Hence, the Executive’s accountability to the Legislature and its parliamentary committees is simply a cardinal tenet of India’s antiauthoritarian polity. The supra behaviour of the Minister of Education constitutes a sedate breach of privilege and contempt of the House.

In fact, it is simply a cleanable lawsuit of specified breach of privilege and contempt and a acceptable lawsuit for enactment by you since the Standing Committee connected Education is 1 of the 8 lasting committees of the Rajya Sabha,” helium added.The National Eligibility cum Entrance Exam (Undergraduate) was held connected May 3 and aboriginal cancelled aft irregularities came to light. Nearly 23 lakh candidates had registered for the test, which was administered by the bureau crossed the country.(With PTI inputs)