The common medical test — known as National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) — for admission to private and Government medical/dental colleges could be rolled out from this year itself, the Centre informed the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
The submission by the Centre came even as the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is all set to conduct the All-India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) on May 1, which is for admissions to Government medical colleges only.
It all happened in a day after a PIl filed by NGO Sankalp was mentioned before a Bench headed by Justice AR Dave, the same judge who headed the five-judge Constitution Bench that revived the single window medical test known as NEET on April 11.
The Bench asked the lawyers appearing for the Medical Council of India (MCI), Centre, and the CBSE as to whether the prayer made in the PIl to conduct NEET was feasible from this year.
The petition argued by advocate Amit Kumar said despite the court paving the way for holding NEET this year, the CBSE and the Centre were delaying the decision on it.
The CBSE submitted that as per the previous decision of the court the schedule for conducting, filling up of seats, and completion of admission has been fixed. Moreover, it informed the SC that the AIPMT is already fixed for May 1.
In view of this, it said there were practical difficulties in holding NEET this year.
But the Bench proposed there could be a way out if the paper was to be postponed and fresh applications were invited for the NEET. The CBSE sought time till Thursday to take instructions.
The MCI informed the Court that the schedule can be revised or in the alternative it proposed if NEET could be held separate from AIPMT and the results be merged for admission to both private and Government medical/dental colleges. The bench said, “We can accommodate NEET in the current schedule.”
The Centre agreed that NEET was possible this year following which the court asked all three stakeholders - Centre, CBSE and MCI to sit together, draft a common schedule and report to court on Thursday.
The Bench, also comprising Justices Shiva Kirti Singh and Adarsh Goel said, “All the three respondents are represented by their respective counsel and they have assured this court that they are ready and willing to hold NEET examination for admission to MBBS and BDS courses for the academic year 2016-17…Proposed schedule of the examination to be held, shall be submitted in the court tomorrow.”
Also, the Bench asked a responsible officer of CBSE to be present in court to take on the spot decision.