Jaya writes to PM, asks not to bring in NEET

Chennai, Oct 8: Strongly objecting to Centre's attempts to bring in a National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical and dental courses, Tamil Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday said it would affect students, infringe the state's rights, policy initiatives and socio-economic objectives.

Stressing that Tamil Nadu had been consistently opposing NEET, she said the state also went to the Supreme Court which quashed the notification for under graduate and post graduate medical, dental courses entrance tests in 2013.

"The judgement upheld all the valid objections of Tamil Nadu," she said. However, challenging it the Centre filed a review petition and Tamil Nadu opposed the Centre's petition in the apex court.

"Tamil Nadu strongly objects to any purported fresh attempts by the Government of India to review the judgement of the Supreme Court seeking re-introduction of NEET or by introducing it in any other name or manner, as it infringes upon the State's rights and admission policies to medical institutions in Tamil Nadu," she said in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Recalling that she had been seeking withdrawal of Centre's review plea in the court, she said against such a background, media reports now said the Centre was considering a recommendation by the Medical Council of India seeking a Common Entrance Test.

"This has again created confusion and frustration in the minds of thousands of students of Tamil Nadu," she said. Jayalalithaa underscored that only after careful consideration Tamil Nadu abolished the entrance examination for professional under graduate courses.

"My government has taken the consistent stand that rural students and students from poorer socio-economic backgrounds were unable to compete with urban elite students in such Common Entrance Examinations," she said.

"Consequently, large socially, economically and backward meritorious rural students have benefited by abolition of the Common Entrance Test," she said.

Tamil Nadu gives preference to those who serve in rural areas for PG courses. Those who complete such courses from government colleges work in State-run hospitals for a stipulated period fulfilling the manpower needs.

"The introduction of NEET would nullify the implementation of these policy initiatives and socio-economic objectives of the state," she said.

PTI