The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought a response from the Tamil Nadu government on a petition by a group of 19 CBSE students in the State seeking a stay on a government notification dated June 22, 2017, allegedly providing “preferential treatment” in medical admission to State board students.
The June notification issued by the Tamil Nadu government allows State board students to compete for all 85% of the MBBS seats after surrender of 15% of seats earmarked under the all India quota based on NEET marks. However, within this 85% – that is, excluding the 15% seats reserved for the all-India quota – CBSE students are allowed to compete for only 15%.
“In other words, selection to MBBS seats in Tamil Nadu will not be made on the basis of NEET marks but by other considerations. This policy is arbitrary and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution. All students having Tamil Nadu nativity should be treated equally irrespective of the Board from which they pass out,” the students represented by senior advocate Nalini Chidambaram and advocate Anushree Menon, contended.
‘Against SC ruling’
A Bench of Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar and D.Y. Chandrachud issued notice to the State along with Secretary Selection Committee, Office of Director of Medical Education in Tamil Nadu, the Medical Council of India and the Central Board of Secondary Education. The notice is returnable on July 7.
The petition filed by Kaaviyaa Nakkiran and 18 other students sought an order of interim injunction restraining the Office of the Director of Medical Education in the State from conducting counselling for allotment of 85% MBBS seats available in the State until the court finally decides the validity of the June 22 notification issued by the State Health and Family Welfare Department. The petition pointed to how the Supreme Court itself had on May 9, 2016 in another case ruled that NEET would be the only basis for admission to MBBS courses. “This policy is arbitrary and violative of the Constitution. All students having Tamil Nadu nativity should be treated equally irrespective of the board from which they pass out. The notification introduces an unreasonable classification between students of Tamil Nadu who passed Plus 2 from State board and students of Tamil Nadu who passed Plus 2 under the CBSE,” the petition contended.
DK’s call for 1 cr. letters
Meanwhile, Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani urged the Tamil Nadu government to ensure that the State is exempted from NEET, saying its implementation interferes with the State’s reservation policy.
Addressing mediapersons in Chennai, Mr. Veeramani exhorted the students to send one crore letters to the President, urging him to sign the ordinance passed in the State Assembly that aims to provide exemption to Tamil Nadu from the examination. “A demonstration will be held by students on July 12 in State capitals against NEET,” said Mr. Veeramani. “NEET will prevent people from poor and backward communities from studying medicine. Even the question paper seems to be different from State to State. The only way forward is to abolish NEET completely,” he said.
