NEET: SC says may permit state-level common exam for medical college admissions

The All India Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Test (AIPMT) later became National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

New Delhi: In a much-awaited decision, the Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) will continue but added that it may allow a state-level common entrance test (CET) for admission to government medical colleges only.

However, this will be subject to the stand to be spelt out by the Centre on Monday.

The apex court has cleared that there would be no exemption for private medical colleges from NEET.

An apex court bench headed by Justice Anil R Dave, however, indicated that it may permit CET for government medial college admissions after Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar told the court that state education ministers were slated to meet central authorities to resolve the issue.

Adjourning the hearing till 2 pm on Monday when the Centre will apprise the court of the outcome of the meeting of the ministers on the issue, the court also sought a response if candidates who had appeared in the first phase of NEET on May 1 could be allowed to reappear in the NEET second phase on July 24.

Meanwhile, the Medical Council of India (MCI) told the apex court that it favoured grant of exemption from NEET in favour of state-level CET for admission to government medical colleges, and that only those candidates who had missed the May 1 NEET for whatever reasons may be allowed to appear in the second phase test on July 24. 

The apex court had on April 29, said the entrance test for admission to MBBS and BDS courses for the academic year 2016-17 will be held as per the schedule through the two- phased common entrance test NEET on May 1 and July 24.

On April 28, the court had rejected opposition for holding NEET by states, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Association of Karnataka Medical Colleges, besides minority institutions like CMC, Vellore.

The apex court order had implied that all government colleges, deemed universities and private medical colleges would be covered under NEET and those examinations which have already taken place or slated to be conducted separately stand scrapped.

It had also revived the government's December 21, 2010 notification for holding a single common entrance test through NEET with a clarification that any challenge on the issue would directly come before it and no high court can interfere.

(With Agency inputs)