With the Supreme Court recently recalling its 2013 judgment, which scrapped a single common entrance test under the name of National Eligibility-cum- Entrance Examination (NEET) for admission to medical courses across the country, the impending entrance examination has led to an outcry from political parties, social welfare organisations, parents and teachers.
The Medical Council of India (MCI) and Dental Council of India (DCI) notified in 2012 that the Central Board of Secondary Education should conduct the NEET. The responsibility of the CBSE was limited to the conduct of the entrance examination, declaration of result and providing merit list to the counselling authorities.
However, State Governments including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and some of the private medical colleges filed cases in Supreme Court opposing the NEET.
In 2013, the apex court declared the NEET as unconstitutional. On hearing a review petition from the Centre, it said the issue would be heard afresh.
Appealing to the Centre for exemption to Union Territory, the All India NR Congress MP R. Radhakrishnan said since 2008 students have been admitted into medical colleges in the Union Territory based on the marks scored in higher secondary examinations. “The proposed NEET will lead the students to face many hardships and if the questions in NEET are asked from the CBSE syllabus, students in Puducherry who were taught under ‘Samacheer’ system will be hard-hit. The dreams of poor and rural students will be shattered,” said Mr. Radhakrishnan.
Taking to the streets over the issue on Thursday, cadres of Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam, led by Logu Aiyappan, claimed that the Supreme Court judgment would result in students in Puducherry losing the 1000-odd medical seats available in the government run-medical college and private medical colleges.
Mr. Aiyappan said, “If the NEET is implemented, students from North India will occupy all seats in the private and government medical colleges in the UT. Poor and rural students in Puducherry will not be able to clear NEET, which will be based on CBSE pattern. It is tantamount to encroaching upon the rights of State government.”
Former Education Minister K. Lakshminarayanan said while rural students are not able to compete with urban students here, it will not be possible for them to clear NEET which will be of high standard. There is only a negligible amount of students from Puducherry who cleared all India entrance examinations such as All India Pre-Medical/Pre Dental Entrance Examination and Joint Entrance Examination for IIT.”
R. Parthasarathy former joint director of School Education said, “It is not possible for the students in Puducherry to excel in NEET if it is rushed through. Another thing, it is not clear whether Jipmer entrance examination will continue to exist or the marks of NEET will be taken up for the admission.”
