Jaya opposes all India CET for UG, PG medical courses

 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today strongly opposed an All India Common Entrance Test for admission to Under Graduates and Post Graduates courses in medical colleges, saying such a move would interfere with the State's rights and create problems in implementing the reservation policy.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, she said that despite the State's protest, the Centre has notified the National Board of Examination for conducting the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test for PG courses and had gone ahead issuing a public notice for MD/MS/PG diploma courses for the 2013 session.

She said the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare had assured states they would be consulted and their views considered before evolving any policy with regard to conduct of an All India Common Entrance Test.

The Tamil Nadu government had also given its views specifically stating that this Test would "interfere with the State Government's rights in administrating the education system and would create problems in implementing the reservation policy followed uniquely in our State", she said.

Even after repeated requests by this public notice, it was now clear that the Centre has not considered the case and has gone ahead with the decision to implement the Common Entrance Test, she said and added that Tamil Nadu should be exempted from the test and allowed to continue with its existing system for admission to UG/PG medical seats.