Common counselling for medical seats challenged

The division bench comprising Justice S Nagamuthu and Justice Anita Sumanth questioned the counsel for MCI why the regulation was belatedly notified when the results of NEET examinations for PG medical courses was declared on January 15, 2017.

Stating that it is prima facie convinced that the admissions of the students to the above college were made in accordance with the norms of National Board of Examinations and by following NEET and PG Marks, the bench in its order said, “The admission of 36 students in the petitioner’s university will be subject to the result of the writ petition. The Petitioner’s University shall inform the same to the 36 students.” 

However, the bench offered liberty to the students who were already admitted in the petitioner’s college to apply for the State Counselling and directed the Government Pleader T N Rajagopalan to permit these students to apply for the same till April 11, 2017. Also, making it clear that the order is applicable only to the petitioner’s college the bench posted the matter for further hearing to April 20.

Candidates appearing for NEET on May 7 are on top gear in their preparation. Because of this, several book stores across the State have started witnessing a surge in demand for reference materials, NEET sample sheets and other guidance books. 

To cash in on the trend, most of the shops on the Lilypond complex have brought in adequate stocks that would be required in the NEET preparation. “Ever since the boards got over, sales of these books have almost tripled. Earlier, we had only a few students checking in during the weekends for these books. Now we have at least 10 footfalls for the worksheets,” said M Shariq, who has been selling second-hand books for the past 10 years at the same complex. 

The books cost anywhere between Rs 250 and Rs 999. S Raghavan who sells books on College Road said, “I am selling at least five books every day each costing around Rs 350. There is a huge demand for the worksheets in Tamil.”