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Common entrance test for MBBS and BDS, rules SC

The Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the decks for holding of the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) – a single common entrance test – for admission to MBBS and BDS courses, in two phases for the academic year 2016-17 in which around 6.5 lakh candidates are likely to appear.

The Apex Court approved the schedule put before it by the Centre, CBSE and the Medical Council of India (MCI) for treating All-India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) fixed for May 1 as NEET-1 and those, who have not applied for the AIPMT, will be given an opportunity to appear in NEET-II on July 24 and the combined result would be declared on August 17 so that the admission process can be completed by September 30.

The order would imply that all government colleges, deemed universities and private medical colleges would be covered under the NEET and those examinations that have already taken place or are slated to be conducted separately stand scrapped.

The order, ending all uncertainty, was pronounced after rejecting the opposition for holding NEET by states such as Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, UP and Association of Karnataka Medical Colleges, besides minority institutions like CMC Vellore had contended that NEET cannot be imposed on them.

The Apex Court order also revives the government’s December 21, 2010, notification for holding single common entrance test through NEET with a clarification that any challenge on the issue would directly come before it and no High Court can interfere in it. The court was of the view that since it has recalled its April 11 order, there was no hindrance in holding the single entrance test.

“In view of the submissions made on behalf of the respondents (Centre, CBSE, MCI), we record that NEET shall be held as stated by the respondents. We further clarify that notwithstanding any order passed by any Court earlier with regard to not holding NEET, this order shall operate. Therefore, no further order is required to be passed at this stage,” said a Bench.

Rejecting the contention that it would not be proper to hold NEET in view of the July 18, 2013, judgement that had scrapped the NEET, the Bench said: “We do not agree with the first submission for the reason that the said judgement has already been recalled on April 11, 2016, and therefore, the notifications dated December 21, 2010, are in operation as on today.” 

“It may however be clarified that by this order, hearing of the petitions that are pending before this Court will not be affected,” the Bench said. 

Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand and senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the Centre and MCI, respectively, submitted that 6,67,637 candidates are appearing for the AIPMT, scheduled for May 1, from 1,040 centres in 52 cities, including abroad. They submitted that by turning the May 1 entrance exam as NEET-1 would protect the interests of students who have already left their homes for the exams and have fully prepared for it.
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