NEET qualifiers, city doc write to CM over domicile dilemma

Kolkata: Many candidates who have successfully passed the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) this year and a city based doctor have written to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, drawing her attention to the filling up of domicile form, in which it was alleged that outside candidates are getting advantage.

It was alleged that according to the pre-counselling and counselling notification organised by the state Health department, candidates from other states are being given advantage only because their parents have domicile here in the state. Whereas, the students appearing for NEET from Bengal have been deprived due to the 'faulty domicile system'.

The students who have sought the Chief Minister's intervention in this regard are Ahona Majhi, Laxmi Das and Nilanjan Adhikari, all of whom have cleared NEET 2018. It was alleged that many candidates from outside would be given opportunity to study MBBS and BDS courses in the state, as they enjoy domicile as any one of their family members have been staying in Bengal.

Multi-domicile system existed during the days when the state government used to conduct the medical entrance examination, but following the introduction of the single level medical entrance examination (NEET) throughout the country, the implementation of the old multi-domicile theory is in question.

It may be mentioned here that the Supreme Court had earlier passed an order, cancelling all MBBS and BDS admissions of Madhya Pradesh, asking the state government to prepare a fresh list for admission as per single domicile rule for the state.

The students have alleged that the Centre should have told the state government to admit candidates on the basis of the single domicile system, as otherwise the students from the state would be victimised, said Dr Amiya Kumar Maity, who also wrote to the Chief Minister along with the candidates, drawing her attention to the issue.

The state Health department is trying to admit candidates on the basis of the old multi-domicile system. Many deserving candidates from Bengal would be denied medical admission, whereas candidates from out of the state would have an advantage only because any of their family members are living here in the state.