Health Ministry against HRD's move for Medical, Engineering CET

The Ministry, in an affidavit filed through the Director General Health Services (DGHS), said it was not in favour of CET at present due to the complexity involved.

"The answering respondent (DGHS) respectfully submits that on careful consideration, it is not at this stage in favour of an integrated entrance examination for medical and engineering streams,", the affidavit filed before a Bench of Justices R V Raveendran and A K Patnaik said.

The Bench later adjourned the matter by two weeks. The Health Ministry said while it shared the concern of CBSE, a wing of the HRD Ministry, to have a CET for maximsing the choice afforded to candidates and minimise the stress, expenses and inconvenience to the candiates, yet the issue has to be deliberated before a final decision could be taken on the plea.

"Even if it is considered desirable to maximise the choice for candidates, the proposed amalgamation would present certain practical and logistical difficulties in the counselling process.

"Candidates eligible to appear for both Medical and Engineering Examination may eventually secure a place on both merit lists, thus posing a problem in allotment and counselling of the seats," the affidavit said.