New Delhi: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, already facing calls to resign over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, may now face privilege proceedings in the Rajya Sabha. Congress chief whip Jairam Ramesh submitted a notice against Pradhan for allegedly lowering the dignity of Parliament through remarks made at a press conference following the leak.
On Monday, Ramesh moved the notice, accusing Pradhan of making “derogatory” comments against a parliamentary committee, which he said “reveal his contempt for Parliament.” In an X post, Ramesh shared a copy of the notice, stating, “I have given notice of a question of privilege under Rule 187 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in 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 while presiding over the rot in the education ministry that is destroying the future of lakhs of youths across the country.”
Ramesh added that it is “well established” that any derogatory reference to parliamentary committees or their members amounts to “gross contempt” of such panels and, by extension, contempt of the House. “I, therefore, request that privilege proceedings be initiated against Shri Dharmendra Pradhan in this matter,” he wrote in the notice.
The alleged derogatory remarks were made by Pradhan at a press conference on May 15, three days after the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 exam due to a paper leak. At the same press conference, Pradhan announced that the re-test would be held on June 21 and that, from next year, the medical entrance examination will be conducted online.
According to Ramesh, journalists asked Pradhan why the education ministry had not implemented recommendations made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education in its report on the NTA. Ramesh quoted Pradhan’s response: “I will not comment on parliamentary standing committee red flags. I will speak about the High-Level Committee of Experts/Radhakrishnan Committee. The parliamentary standing committee has members from the opposition. They write things in a certain manner, you also know that. Hence, I won't speak on the standing committee.”
Ramesh argued that parliamentary committees are an extension of Parliament and are rightly referred to as mini-Parliaments. “Hence, the Executive’s accountability to the Legislature and its parliamentary committees is a fundamental tenet of India’s democratic polity. The above conduct of the Minister of Education constitutes a grave breach of privilege and contempt of the House. In fact, it is a perfect case of such breach of privilege and contempt and a fit case for action by you since the Standing Committee on Education is one of the eight standing committees of the Rajya Sabha,” he added.
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Exam (Undergraduate) was held on May 3 and later cancelled after irregularities came to light. Nearly 23 lakh candidates had registered for the test, which was administered by the NTA across the country. (With PTI inputs)
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