Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has taken strong objection to the reported move by the Union Government to approach the Supreme Court with a plea to review the apex court’s verdict quashing the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).
In a split verdict on July 18, 2013, the Supreme Court had declared the notification of the Medical Council of India and the Dental Council of India introducing NEET for the Under Graduate and Post Graduate Medical and Dental courses ultra vires of the Constitution and quashed the same.
“Instead of abiding by the judgement, a press statement attributed to Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has indicated that the Government of India may move the Supreme Court for a review of the judgement. This has again created confusion and frustration in the minds of thousands of students of Tamil Nadu, who have already been covered by a fair and transparent admission policy laid down by the Government of Tamil Nadu which has been working well. Tamil Nadu strongly objects to any such fresh purported attempts by the Centre to seek a review of the judgement and efforts for reintroduction of NEET in any manner as it infringes upon the State’s rights and admission policies to medical institutions in Tamil Nadu,” Jayalalithaa said in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, excerpts of which were released to the media on Monday.
The Chief Minister said the move to introduce NEET would damage the prospects of students in Tamil Nadu, especially those from the rural areas. “The Tamil Nadu Government had taken a number of deliberative steps starting from 2005 which culminated in the abolition of the Common Entrance Examination for professional under graduate courses in the State. The Common Entrance Examination would have put the rural students to great disadvantage because they lack the resources to enroll in training institutions and access materials available to urban students. Consequently, a large number of socially and economically backward meritorious rural students have benefited by the decision to abolish the Common Entrance Test in the State,” said the Chief Minister.
She also pointed out that 69 per cent of all professional colleges in the State are reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Communities and Most Backward Communities. The introduction of NEET would throw out of gear the reservation system in the State.
The letter said her Government has stipulated that those wishing to pursue post graduation should put in service in rural and hilly areas. “For post graduate courses, the Tamil Nadu Government gives preference to those who have served in rural areas, giving special weightage to those working in hilly and tribal areas,” she said.