Supreme Court clears NEET in 2 phases for medical courses

Brushing aside strong objections from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and several private associations of medical colleges, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed the holding of National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test in two phases for admissions to medical and dental courses for 2016-2017 across the country.

As first reported by this newspaper, in the schedule given by the Centre, the Medical Council of India and CBSE and approved by a three-judge bench of Justices Anil R. Dave, Shiva Kirti Singh and A.K. Goel, the All India Pre-Medical Test to be held on May 1 will be treated as NEET-1, while NEET-2 will be held on July 24, and the combined results announced on August 17. Admissions will be completed by September 30. The examination will be held in pursuance of the notifications of December 21, 2010 by the Medical Council of India and Dental Council of India.

The bench said: “The CBSE will provide all-India rank. The admitting authorities will invite applications for counselling and the merit list shall be drawn based on the all-India rank. All associated with the conduct of the examination, including the Central government, state government institutions, police, etc will extend all support to the CBSE and permit security measures like the use of electronic and communication device jammers for timely and fair conduct of NEET.”

Calling it a “milestone judgment”. Union health minister J.P. Nadda said: “Despite the challenges to conduct the exam this year, the ministry is geared up to work with the other partners and stakeholders to ensure that the entrance exams are successfully held.”

The Centre said this will prevent the holding of multiple entrance tests and be a boon to students aspiring for admission to medical and dental courses in around 400 government and private medical colleges.

The bench also clarified that notwithstanding any order passed by any court earlier on not holding NEET, this order shall operate. Therefore, no further order is required to be passed at this stage. Some counsel representing those not party to this petition made submissions that in view of the judgment passed in Christian Medical College, Vellore & Others versus Union of India, it would not be proper to hold NEET and this order should not affect pending matters. “We do not agree with the first submission for the reason that the said judgment has already been recalled on 11th April 2016, and therefore the notifications dated 21st December 2010 are in operation as of today. The petitions already pending will be listed in due course,” the bench said.