Jaya asks Modi to withdraw plea in SC on medical admissions

Chennai, Mar 9: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "instruct" Union Health Ministry to withdraw a review petition filed during the UPA tenure in the Supreme Court over its verdict scrapping the common entrance test for admissions to medical courses.

Stating that the case was scheduled for hearing on March 15, she requested that the review plea should be withdrawn by the Centre.

"I request you to instruct the Health Ministry to withdraw the review petition filed by the UPA government pending in the Supreme Court and it is coming up for hearing on March 15," she said.

"I also request you not to pursue any legislative measures to circumvent the Supreme Court's orders of 2013 upholding Tamil Nadu's stand on this issue," she said in a letter to him.

"Reiterating Tamil Nadu's strong objections, she said, the "introduction of NEET or any Common Entrance Examination would nullify the implementation of policy initiatives and socio-economic objectives of the State since we would have to fall in line with the regulations of the National Test."

She recalled her letter to the PM last month conveying Tamil Nadu's strong objection to the Centre's attempts to review the judgment against the introduction of a National Eligibility Entrance Test in any name or manner.

Such a move would adversely affect the interests of students of Tamil Nadu, particularly those from weaker sections and rural areas, she said.

"It infringes upon the state's right to determine the admission policies to medical educational institutions in Tamil Nadu," she said.

In 2013, the apex court had quashed a notification by the Medical and Dental Councils introducing NEET for under and postgraduate medical, dental courses holding the move ultra vires the Constitution.

Stating that the judgment had rightly upheld the valid objections of Tamil Nadu, she said, "this judgment was widely welcomed. However, instead of abiding by it, the then UPA government filed a review petition."

PTI