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UP, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana oppose NEET

The states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, along with several other private institutions, on Thursday strongly opposed the holding of NEET this year and urged the Supreme Cour

The states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, along with several other private institutions, on Thursday strongly opposed the holding of NEET this year and urged the Supreme Court not to pass any such order as it will affect lakhs of students who proposed to take the tests.

Senior counsel P.P. Rao, appearing for Andhra Pradesh, told the court that the state was protected by the presidential order issued under Article 371D of the Constitution and NEET cannot be thrust on them. He said the entrance test in the state is to be held on Friday which cannot be stopped at this stage. He cited various judgments to drive home the point that the state cannot be brought under NEET.

Senior counsel Harin Ravel, appearing for Telangana endorsed Andhra Pradesh’s stand and said the Constitutional protection cannot be taken away in the guise of NEET.

Senior counsel K.K. Venugopal, appearing for Karnataka private medical colleges association, said over 1.50 lakh students will take this year’s entrance test to be conducted by the Association on May 8. He said since more than '8 crores had already been spent for the test, it cannot be stopped at this stage. Similar oppositions were voiced by counsel for colleges in UP and other states.

However, additional solicitor-general Pinky Anand, justified the NEET and said it will be applicable to all the states and colleges throughout the country.

Referring to TN’s stand, she said even in 2013 students from Tamil Nadu participated and for the May 1 test over 15,000 students are appearing from the State. She said the court should not take note of the objections and allow NEET from this year itself. Senior counsel Vikas Singh, for MCI suggested some changes in the schedule. However, he accepted the time table.

The Bench told the counsel that after the constitution bench gave a ruling on April 11 this year restoring NEET, the States and colleges should have stopped any move to hold their own examinations as the 2010 notifications had come into operation. Ignoring the protests, the Bench gave its nod for conducting NEET from this year.

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