NEET 2017: TN does not get exemption, SC says medical counseling begins Thursday

The Supreme Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to conduct medical counseling under NEET 2017. The court said that the counseling should be conducted and completed by September 4.

The Medical counseling will begin on Thursday. The court observed that NEET will be the only basis for admissions. Further the court said the counseling should be conducted immediately and the process should end by September 4.

The court said that it could not approve the ordinance of the TN government on NEET. Further it also said that TN cannot be exempted from NEET. The state has been told to follow NEET or a common medical entrance test.

Last week the court stayed the admission process under NEET 2017 in Tamil Nadu. Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, cleared an ordinance of the Tamil Nadu government, in consultation with Attorney General KK Venugopal, which seeks to exempt medical students from appearing in the common entrance test NEET. This makes it more apparent for NEET exemption for Tamil Nadu students this year. On 14 August, the Centre agreed to exempt the State from the exam, for a year, only 'If the state government promulgates an ordinance asking for exception for NEET this year.'

Tamil Nadu, which had initially sought permanent exemption from NEET by passing two bills in the Assembly, later made efforts to be out of its ambit for at least a year or two.

The Centre's decision to scrap NEET has not been well received by a section of the students who plan to challenge the same. Senior advocate Nalini Chidambaram, representing the candidates who have cleared NEET 2017 and awaiting admission, said the state and the Centre had entered a deal to cancel this year's exam ahead of the presidential elections.

OneIndia News