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Free NEET training for govt students unlikely next year
A day after School education Minister KA Sengottaiyan gave an assurance that National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) coaching would begin from March this year, an official, on condition of anonymity, said that the Tamil Nadu government could scrap free NEET coaching from the next academic year.
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The government’s move comes against the backdrop of several legal experts suggesting that the School Education Department not continue the training programme due to a case filed by TN in the SC against NEET. The State had filed a fresh case challenging Section 10-D of the Indian Medical Council Act. This was officially informed by Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar during the recent Assembly session. The School Education Department official told DT Next that detailed discussions were held between the authorities and legal experts with regard to the continuation of free NEET training.
“Legal experts suggested that as per the law, it would be difficult to contest NEET as it would also be against the policy decision to have free NEET coaching for students since the government moved the Apex court,” he said, adding, “The TN Assembly had passed two Bills with the support of all parties in 2017 for the State to be exempted from the test and therefore, it is a serious concern to have free NEET training centres.
According to the official, until the case is pending, it is not possible for the government to provide free NEET training. Stating that doing so this year itself is difficult, he said, “at present, students, who registered themselves, were asked to prepare through guides and other study material provided to them.” However, the official pointed out that if SC’s verdict is against the government’s stance, there is a possibility of continuing NEET coaching.
SC refuses to stay NEET in Vellore CMC
The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to stay NEET exams on a plea by the Christian Medical College, Vellore, saying it can only consider the question of minority status of the institution. The court’s observation came during the course of hearing a plea filed by the CMC in 2016 seeking exemption from NEET since it was a minority insitution.
SC refuses NEET exemption for CMC
A plea by the Christian Medical College, Vellore came up for hearing before the bench of Justice Arun Mishra seeking exemption from NEET on Wednesday.
In its petition, the CMC said, as a minority institution with rights under the Constitution it conducted its own admission tests and should be allowed to continue with it in place of NEET.
Under NEET, students from deprived sections were not able to get admission and so should be exempted from it, the college contended.
The Tamil Nadu government contended that the NEET legislation and the 2019 notification making it mandatory were violative of the Constitution. The Tamil Nadu government had scrapped entrance exams in 2006 for professional courses like medicine and the NEET was contrary to it.
The Tamil Nadu government was opposed to the Centre’s notification making NEET mandatory, the state said.
After hearing the arguments, Justice Mishra said there cannot be a stay on NEET. The court is bound by the judgements of the Constitution bench on the issue and there cannot be frequent changes to the law.
The court can only look into the question of minority status of the institution and adjourned hearing.
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