State Government colleges could get exemption from National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) this year after the Medical Council of India (MCI) on Friday proposed that States may be allowed, as an exception this year, to fill MBBS/BDS seats in Government colleges through their Common Entrance Test (CET).
The Supreme Court will take a final call on granting this exemption on Monday as the Centre informed the court that the Health Ministry is meeting State representatives on the issue over the weekend.
Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar said that a meeting is scheduled to be held in the next two days between Health Ministry officials and representatives from States, as several States have conveyed their reservations on implementing NEET this year.
States had argued that most of them had already made preparations for the CET this year while some had even conducted it. Moreover, the switch from CET to NEET will cause tremendous hardship to students who are trained in the State syllabus and face a language barrier since NEET will be conducted only in English and Hindi this year.
The MCI, through senior advocate Vikas Singh, informed the Bench that a decision has been taken to exempt State CETs this year, considering the problems faced by States. However, NEET will apply to private medical colleges without exception.
The Bench of Justices AR Dave, Shiva Kirti Singh and Adarsh K Goel gave time to the Centre to come up with its decision on allowing State CETs. As far as private medical colleges are concerned, the Bench reiterated, “Prima facie it is also our view that private colleges will not be allowed to have their exam. There shall be NEET for private colleges, association of private colleges and deemed colleges. As far as States CET are concerned, S-G will take instructions.”
Meanwhile, the court hinted that those students who failed to appear in the first phase of NEET on May 1 could be held eligible for the next phase on July 24. But this concession may not be available for those students who have already taken NEET, the Bench added.