MCI told to reply 12 queries on NEET

A division bench comprising Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice V Parthiban said, “There are many difficulties faced by the students who are undergoing studies under various systems namely State Board, Central Board, Anglo Indian Syllabus and ICSE as syllabus under various streams are different and there is no uniformity.” 

Noting that in Tamil Nadu only 4,675 science group students were from 268 CBSE schools, whereas 4.20 lakh science group students were from 6,877 State Board schools during 2016-17, the bench raised a query as to whether it is possible to determine the calibre of the students by a single NEET examination held by CBSE, while students are from various systems. 

Another aspect raised by the bench is about NEET favouring CBSE students, who constitute only about 5-10 per cent of the total candidates, as the question papers are based on CBSE syllabus. Also, stressing on the need for a level playing field, the bench sought to know about exclusion of academic performance in plus one and plus two examinations making students non-serious about school studies. 

On wondering as to whether it would be appropriate to combine the plus two marks and NEET marks in equal percentile to determine the students merit, the bench sought an answer about the scope of conducting NEET exam along with plus two exams to avoid mental pressure on students. 

Besides raising queries on NEET leading to mushrooming of coaching centres across the country, the bench wanted answers about prescribing uniform syllabus for Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Maths throughout India to remove disparity and whether the state government is responsible for dilution of education standards here by not revising the syllabus on a par with CBSE. 

The bench directed MCI and others to answer the queries raised by June 27. However, the bench on noting that since the case has all India ramification, referred the matter to the Chief Justice for necessary orders.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Friday moved the Supreme Court seeking an immediate stay on the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court’s order restraining the publication of results of NEET 2017 for admission to MBBS and BDS courses across the country. The Bench had on May 24 granted interim stay on the publication of NEET results on a batch of pleas alleging that a uniform question paper was not given in the examination and there was a vast difference between the ones in English and in Tamil. The CBSE mentioned the matter before a vacation bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and Deepak Gupta and said that due to the High Court’s order, the entire schedule of counselling and subsequent admission for medical courses through NEET have gone ‘haywire.’ The matter concerns the fate of around 12 lakh aspirants for MBBS and BDS courses. The apex court said it would hear the case on June 12.  

Amid widespread anger in Tamil Nadu over frequent killing of fishermen, the Madras High Court has been moved seeking to refer the matter of Human Rights violations resorted to by the Sri Lankan Navy against Indian fishermen for the past 34 years to the International Court of Justice.

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar, before whom a PIL moved by Fishermen Care represented by its president LTA Rayan came up for hearing, directed the Assistant Solicitor General Su Sreenivasan appearing for the Centre and Government Pleader M K Subramanian appearing for the state to get instructions. The bench then posted the matter for further hearing to July 17.

Rayan on alleging that the Lankan Navy had all these years violated the 1974 agreement entered between India and Sri Lanka, which safeguarded the customary fishing rights of fishermen from both countries, said it is ultra vires that the Sri Lankan government on ignoring the agreement was instead acting on an executive order issued when emergency was in force in India.  Taking advantage of this executive order, which ceded such fishing rights, the Sri Lankan Navy has been attacking Indian fishermen, he said. He also noted that the Tamil Nadu government has been repeatedly urging the Union government to intervene in the issue, but the Centre remains to be a silent spectator, Rayan added. 

The Madras High Court has issued notice to four medical colleges run by three deemed universities in Puducherry for not adhering to the fee committee recommendations. The institutions were demanding Rs 40 lakh to Rs 50 lakh for a seat under the state quota after counselling.

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar on posting the PIL for further hearing to June 13, held,  “The court deems it appropriate to suo motu implead Secretary, Union Ministry of Human Resource Development, UGC, Arupadaiveedu Med College, Cuddalore, Vinayaka Mission, Karaikkaal, Mahathma Gandhi Medical College, Cuddalore, Lakshmi Institute of Medical Science, Puducherry as respondents.” 

The petitioner VBR Menon submitted that counselling for seven medical colleges in Puducherry has been completed. Out of the above 7 colleges, three are affiliated ones and the other four are part of deemed universities. In the case of colleges under deemed universities, they are not accepting the fees fixed by the Puducherry Fee Committee and are demanding an exorbitant amount of Rs 40 to 50 lakh   apart from demanding execution of post-education service bonds and undertakings, said Menon in his petition.

The Madras High Court has been moved alleging that despite the orders of the Supreme Court that no liquor vending shop should be allowed within 500 metres of National and state highways, several military canteens and duty-free shops within the airport are functioning against the norms.

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar, before whom a PIL filed by AMK Sahul Hameed of Avadi came up on Friday, ordered notice to the authorities and posted the matter for further hearing to July 24. 

The PIL prayed for a direction to the government to stop sale of liquor at military canteens, airports and certain types of hotels in the airports. Stating that all the above Military canteens and the duty paid shops inside the airports are situated all along the National/ State highways, the petitioner said these places continue to sell liquor and permit customers to drink in the bars attached to them. Petitioner prayed for a direction to the government to make the ban order applicable to them also.