Members of Parliament across the political spectrum on Wednesday urged the Centre to approach the Supreme Court to defer the common entrance test for medical seats this year and introduce it in a phased manner, and also allow students to take the test in regional languages.
“It is an important issue. In principle, the government is in favour of a common entrance examination but not from this year. I shall convey the concerns of the House to the Health and HRD Ministers and to the court through the Attorney General,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour.
He, however, added that there were two views about common entrance test, as some malpractices had been alleged.
Last month, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre and Central Board of Secondary Education to conduct a single common entrance test for admission to MBBS and BDS courses through National Eligibility-Cum-Entrance Test (NEET).
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, members said while they were in favour of a common entrance test, holding it this year would be “unfair” to thousands of students, especially from poorer sections, who had already prepared for it.
Congress MP Rajiv Satav suggested that the Centre could bring an ordinance in this regard.
Meanwhile, the Centre has approached the Supreme Court seeking permission to hold entrance examination for MBBS and BDS for the academic year 2016-17 in six regional languages. Akali Dal’s Prem Singh Chandumajra wanted Punjabi to be included.
Tathagat Satpathy of Biju Janata Dal demanded that the Centre should come out with a clear stance on the issue and go back to the court “otherwise it would damage the future of students.”
Trinamool Congress MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said students from remote areas would be the greatest sufferers as they have been preparing in regional languages for years.
She called for legislative measures to address the issue.
“Even if you are angry at some autonomous institutions...it should not be directed at poor students whose future would be in jeopardy,” she added.