There will now be a single entrance test from this year itself for admission to MBBS and BDS courses across all Government and private medical colleges.
The Supreme Court on Thursday gave the go-ahead to the Centre to conduct the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) for the academic year 2016-17 in a two-phased examination process. With over 6.67 lakh students having enrolled for the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT), scheduled to be held on May 1, the Centre has decided that this examination will be treated as the first phase of NEET followed by a second phase on July 24 for students who subsequently fill the application form for NEET. The results for both the rounds will be declared on August 17.
Approving this schedule presented to the court by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), a Bench of Justices AR Dave, Shiva Kirti Singh and Adarsh Goel made it clear that all private, Government medical colleges, including deemed universities shall draw up their merit list based on the All India Rank provided by NEET and invite applications for counselling. The Bench told the Centre to give wide publicity to NEET so that any student who has missed out in the first phase can appear in the second round.
Welcoming the SC’s order, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said the judgment was a “milestone”. He said, “Despite the challenges to conduct the exam this year the Ministry is geared up to work with other partners and stakeholders to ensure that the entrance exams are successfully held.”
Several private medical colleges and State Government colleges opposed this move by the court to rush in NEET even as its validity is under challenge in the SC. The apex court on July 18, 2013, had struck down NEET but this judgment was recalled by a five-judge Constitution Bench on April 11 this year.
Turning down the plea of private managements and State bodies, the Bench said, “The said judgment (of July 18, 2013) has already been recalled on April 11, 2016 and therefore, the notifications dated December, 21, 2010 (implementing NEET) are in operation as on today.”
However, the court said the interim order will not affect the hearing on the validity of NEET that is likely to be taken up on May 3.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana claimed exemption from NEET by citing past SC decisions allowing State medical colleges to conduct their own examination, enjoying protection under a Presidential Order. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka claimed that admissions to medical and dental courses are governed by laws passed by the respective State Governments, which have not been struck down by any court. Moreover, the respective High Courts in the States had granted exemption from NEET.
The Bench disposed off the objections by ordering, “Notwithstanding any order passed by any court earlier with regard to not holding NEET, this order shall operate. Therefore, no further order is required to be passed at this stage.”
Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, who appeared for the Centre and CBSE and senior advocate Vikas Singh along with advocate Gaurav Sharma, representing MCI, informed the court that in 2013 when NEET was first implemented, it was held in three phases. The idea was to reduce the burden on students from appearing in multiple examinations across the country for MBBS/BDS admissions.
They indicated to the court that once NEET is in operation, all other examinations conducted by State Boards, private college associations or individual colleges will have to go. Many States have already conducted their admission test while some are in the middle of the process to fill up medical seats.