The Supreme Court on Thursday made it clear that private medical colleges will have to fill seats through the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) conducted by CBSE even as it kept the window open for exempting State medical tests this year.
The court was confronted by a news report by lawyers appearing for private medical colleges that an impression is created among students that in the absence of any bar on private medical colleges, its associations and states to hold exams, SC had validated them for this year.
Dismissing the suggestion, the Bench of Justices AR Dave, Shiva Kirti Singh and Adarsh K Goel said, “We have not said anything. So long as Regulations are there to conduct NEET, it will go on.” later in the day as confusion still prevailed on the fate of exams to be conducted by private medical college associations, the bench clarified, “We will not allow private medical colleges to hold their exams.” However, as regards common entrance test (CET) of states, the bench asked all counsels appearing for the states, Centre, CBSE and Medical Council of India to give suggestions by Friday.