The Supreme Court on Monday lifted the ban on its earlier order on declaration of results for admission into MBBS, BDS and postgraduate courses for the current academic session for which entrance tests have already been held. The order, however, has created confusion on the fate of the students who get seats in private medical colleges through the government-conducted examination.
In an interim order, the court while lifting the ban ‘in the interest of the students and hospitals’ reserved its verdict on the validity of common entrance exam – the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) – conducted by the Medical Council of India (MCI), which is being opposed by private medical colleges. A bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir said that since it could not conclude the hearing on the issue within a stipulated period, it was modifying the order.
The court said that the admissions would go on for the current year in places where the examinations have already been held, adding it was not touching the matter where they have not been held. According to an official of Medical Council of India, the court order would indicate that NEET result would be applicable to all those private medical colleges which did not conduct their own entrance examination.
The apex court is in the middle of hearing a bunch of petitions which have questioned the MCI’s decision to conduct the first-ever common entrance examination NEET for admission into both MBBS and postgraduate courses in medicine as well as dental streams.
Earlier, in its 13 December order last year, the court had said, ‘In the meantime, the Medical Council of India, the Dental Council of India, as well as the states and universities and other institutions, will be entitled to conduct their respective examinations for the MBBS, BDS and postgraduate courses, but shall not declare the results of the same, until further orders.’
In an interim order, the court while lifting the ban ‘in the interest of the students and hospitals’ reserved its verdict on the validity of common entrance exam – the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) – conducted by the Medical Council of India (MCI), which is being opposed by private medical colleges. A bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir said that since it could not conclude the hearing on the issue within a stipulated period, it was modifying the order.
The court said that the admissions would go on for the current year in places where the examinations have already been held, adding it was not touching the matter where they have not been held. According to an official of Medical Council of India, the court order would indicate that NEET result would be applicable to all those private medical colleges which did not conduct their own entrance examination.
The apex court is in the middle of hearing a bunch of petitions which have questioned the MCI’s decision to conduct the first-ever common entrance examination NEET for admission into both MBBS and postgraduate courses in medicine as well as dental streams.
Earlier, in its 13 December order last year, the court had said, ‘In the meantime, the Medical Council of India, the Dental Council of India, as well as the states and universities and other institutions, will be entitled to conduct their respective examinations for the MBBS, BDS and postgraduate courses, but shall not declare the results of the same, until further orders.’