Supreme Court Quash National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) For All Medical and Dental colleges Admissions Thursday July 18,2013

The Supreme Court on Thursday July 18,2013 Quashed the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for admissions into all Medical and Dental colleges. The apex court ruled that the Medical Council of India cannot conduct a unified examination

Striking down NEET, the Supreme Court said that the Medical Council Act does not allow the MCI to 'conduct' exams, it only gives the body power to frame guidelines

The SC's decision came on 115 petitions challenging the MCI notification on NEET for admission to MBBS and post-graduate medical courses conducted in colleges across the country.

The Bench of Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir, Justices Vikramajeet Sen and Anil Dave gave a Split Verdict on the issue.

•  Justices Kabir and Sen ruled against the MCI's single entrance exam and
•  Justice Anil Dave was in favour of the examination

The Bench said that the MCI notification was in violation of Articles 19, 25, 26, 29 and 30 of the Constitution

Justice A R Dave said he did not share the view of Chief Justice Kabir and Justice Sen. "Holding of National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) is legal, practical and is the need of the society. Hence, I have dissented,"


The SC,however, made it clear that its verdict will not affect the admissions which have already taken place.

The SC also ruled that private medical colleges will conduct their own entrance examination through their associations while the states and Central government will conduct their own tests

Note

• In an interim order passed in May 2013 the SC had directed the MCI and all private colleges to start their admission process, as per the old guidelines where the MCI, state governments and private colleges conduct their separate exams

• Aspiring medicos have been arguing that a single NEET will make the admission process simpler and more transparent.Most of the students believe that an all-India common entrance examination will streamline the entire admission process and make it more transparent

• The medical education standoff started with the MCI proposing a common entrance test for MBBS, Dental and PG Medical courses. The proposal was, however, opposed by the private medical and dental colleges and they moved the apex court. The court then ordered the MCI to conduct NEET and also allowed all states and private colleges to conduct their entrance exams but asked them not to declare results till the verdict is pronounced