The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the provisions of a Madhya Pradesh law, which enables the government to have 50 per cent shares in management seats in private dental colleges. The court said there was no violation of right of autonomy of educational institutions in Common Entrance Test (CET) being conducted by the state or in fixing fee.
“There was no violation of right of autonomy of the educational institutions in the CET being conducted by the State or an agency nominated by the State or in fixing fee. The right of a state to do so is subject to a central law. Once the notifications under the Central statutes for conducting the CET called NEET become operative, it will be a matter between the states and the Union, which will have to be sorted out on the touchstone of Article 254 of the Constitution,” a Constitution Bench said.
The court also ordered the constitution of a three-member Oversight Committee, headed by ex-CJI RM Lodha, to oversee the functioning of the Medical Council of India (MCI) with regard to the entrance test.
“The Committee will have the authority to oversee all statutory functions under MCI Act. All policy decisions of MCI will require approval of the Oversight Committee. It will be free to issue appropriate remedial directions,” the Bench added.