For medical aspirants in Tamil Nadu, the uncertainty is set to come to an end. With the Supreme Court on Friday refusing to allow 85% reservation for State Board, students may now have to gear up for a NEET-based counselling process.
According to highly placed sources in the government, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami took up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at New Delhi on Friday morning following which discussions were on.
“Within a day or two, we will know the Centre’s reaction. We will not drag it on further. Medical admissions will begin next week,” an official said.
According to officials, it would take six days time to start the counselling, which means it can start by the middle of next week.
The apex court’s deadline for the completion of counselling for medical and dental college seats is August 31.
Legal measures
In February, Tamil Nadu introduced two Bills in its Legislative Assembly to exempt medical and dental aspirants from NEET — both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
The Bills, though passed, require presidential assent. Subsequently, the government decided to promulgate an ordinance exempting from NEET for the current academic year in the State.
In July, the government decided to reserve 85% of the State quota of medical seats (15% of seats for go to the All India quota) for students of the State Board, while the remaining would be available for students from other Boards. However, this decision was struck down by courts.
In light of the fact that the August 31 deadline is approaching, counselling for MBBS and BDS seats will be completed in time ensuring no seats are left vacant, officials said.
Meanwhile, Health Minister C. Vijaya Baskar said in Namakkal that the government would study the Supreme Court judgement rejecting the Tamil Nadu’s plea on NEET, and consult the Chief Minister and legal experts to decide on the future course of action.
