It seems like Tamil Nadu's ordinance route to get its medical aspirants an exemption from the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test has far more hurdles than expected. On Monday, Attorney General of India KK Venugopal reversed his opinion on a proposed State Ordinance to facilitate the one year exemption. After giving it the nod last week, he has now conveyed to officials that the ordinance will not stand legal scrutiny, reports TNIE.
The Supreme Court’s verdict on the NEET exemption is expected on Tuesday. In the last hearing the Apex court had sought details on the number of students who had cleared the State Board Plus Two exam and managed to qualify for NEET.
“The Attorney General of India said the special Ordinance for exemption of the State from NEET was not legally valid,” an officer who was part of the team camping in New Delhi told TNIE. “We will have to conduct UG medical admissions based on NEET scores this year if the SC order too goes against the State.”
A group of CBSE students meanwhile, staged a protest at the Directorate of Medical Education campus demanding medical counselling based on the NEET score. This fresh development comes merely a day after a headmistress in Vellore committed suicide, allegedly fearing that her daughter won't be able to get a medical seat this year. She had reportedly secured 212 in NEET and 1125 in her board exams. The woman was found hanging in her residence.
Earlier the state government had attempted to provide an 85% quota for state board students in medical colleges. However, CBSE students took the matter to the Madras High Court which deemed it discriminatory and counter productive to the objective of the common entrance exam. Following this, the government order was struck down.