SC bars students who appeared in NEET-I to re-appear in NEET-II

The Solicitor General said that the Centre would be convening a meeting of all the stakeholders in a day or two on issues related to NEET and would apprise the court about the outcome on May 9.

Earlier, the apex court had said that unaided private medical colleges across the country cannot be permitted to go ahead with their pre-scheduled tests for admissions to MBBS and BDS courses.

The apex court had earlier commenced the crucial hearing on the pleas of state governments, private medical colleges, and minority institutions like CMC Vellore and Ludhiana seeking nod to hold pre-scheduled separate entrance exams for MBBS and BDS courses.

Stand of States in this matter:

The states, opposing NEET, alleged that there are marked differences in the syllabus for the state entrance tests and the NEET.

In its bid to provide equal opportunities to all, the Supreme Court on Friday, May 6 clarified that the students, who appeared in National Eligibility Entrance Test-I (NEET) on May 1 for admissions in MBBS and BDS courses, cannot be permitted to re-appear in NEET-II, scheduled to be held on July 24.

SC's Verdict:

"Those students who had appeared in the NEET Phase-I shall not be permitted to appear at NEET Phase-II but the students who could not appear in NEET Phase-I may appear in NEET Phase-II," a bench of Justices A R Dave, Shiva Kirti Singh and Adarsh Kumar Goel told the PTI.

On state exams:

• Changing its stand on the subject, the bench hinted that it may consider allowing states to conduct their own tests to continue with the admission process for current academic year alone
• However, it deferred the decision on this aspect till May 9 when Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar who is scheduled to apprise them about the stand of the Centre
• "The issue with regard to those students who had appeared or who are due to appear in examinations conducted by the States in accordance with their State laws, shall be decided after hearing the Solicitor General," the court said
• "In view of the request made by the Solicitor General, hearing is adjourned to May 9, 2016," the bench said.

What does the interim order say?

The court restated its earlier view on private colleges holding their separate entrance tests saying "it is clarified that no examination shall be permitted to be held for admission to MBBS or BDS studies by any private college or association or any private/deemed university."

Medical Council of India's (MCI) take on the matter:

During the brief hearing, the MCI, which had earlier opposed the plea of some states, has said that they should be allowed to continue with their entrance tests, however, told the court that they can be permitted "only for this year".

The Solicitor General said that the Centre would be convening a meeting of all the stakeholders in a day or two on issues related to NEET and would apprise the court about the outcome on May 9.

Earlier, the apex court had said that unaided private medical colleges across the country cannot be permitted to go ahead with their pre-scheduled tests for admissions to MBBS and BDS courses.

The apex court had earlier commenced the crucial hearing on the pleas of state governments, private medical colleges, and minority institutions like CMC Vellore and Ludhiana seeking nod to hold pre-scheduled separate entrance exams for MBBS and BDS courses.

Stand of States in this matter:

The states, opposing NEET, alleged that there are marked differences in the syllabus for the state entrance tests and the NEET.

Source: Indiatoday