NEET for Ayush courses: HC notice to State, Centre

A division bench of High Court of Karnataka in Dharwad has issued emergent notice to Central and State governments, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) and Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) in connection with a writ petition filed by a student seeking admission to Ayush courses.

Hearing a petition filed by Ankita Patil seeking restoration of old system of admissions to Ayush courses in the state, Justices L Narayana Swamy and B M Shyamprasad on Thursday issued emergent notices to Centre and state government, RGUHS and KEA.

The petitioner has questioned the decision of the Union Government to make National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) compulsory for admission to various Ayush courses from this academic year. The Centre has directed the state governments to implement its order of admitting students to Ayush courses based on their performance in the NEET.

Earlier, the students seeking admission to Ayush courses were required to pass the Common Entrance Test (CET) conducted by KEA. The petitioner has claimed that the NEET for Ayush courses cannot be changed without making changes in the Ayush rules.

Since the students have studied the state syllabus at PUC, it would be difficult for them to clear the NEET, the petitioner has argued. She has prayed the court to direct the authorities concerned to follow the old system of admitting students to Ayush courses.

After issuing the emergent notices, the court adjourned the case. Advocate G K Hiregoudar is representing the petitioner.