States, medical colleges oppose NEET

Tamil Nadu on Thursday opposed before the Supreme Court the proposed common entrance test for admission to MBBS and BDS courses.

It contended that its students were not prepared to undertake any examination as its colleges took candidates on the basis of class XII marks.

Besides, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka private medical colleges association and Christian Medical College, which had earlier challenged the NEET, submitted that a common test would adversely affect the students. Andhra Pradesh claimed its pre-medical test is already scheduled for Friday.

A three-judge bench presided over by Justice Anil R Dave refused to accede to their plea, observing they can raise their contention separately in the pending petitions. Senior advocate Rajeev Dhawan, appearing for one of the colleges, raised objection over Justice Dave hearing the matter, saying, “a dissenting judge is hearing the case who while heading a five-judge Constitution bench had recalled July, 2013 judgment without overturning it.”
The matter was directed by the Constitution Bench for hearing afresh, he submitted. Justice Dave had in 2013 dissented with then chief justice Altamas Kabir and Justice (since retired) Vikramjit Sen who by a majority view had set aside the NEET.