Government is likely to seek a review of the Supreme Court judgement scrapping the common entrance test for MBBS, BDS and post—graduate courses in medical and dental colleges with the Law Ministry endorsing a proposal in this regard.
The Health Ministry, unhappy with the judgement, had proposed taking “legal and legislative recourse” to retain National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).
The Law Ministry has backed the proposal of the Health Ministry saying it was in agreement that if the split judgement was not discussed among judges, it was a fit case to seek a review.
In a majority verdict by the then Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir and Justice Vikramjit Sen, the apex court had earlier this month scrapped NEET for admission to MBBS, BDS and post—graduate courses in medical and dental colleges.
In a dissenting judgement, Justice A R Dave had upheld the Medical Council of India’s decision to conduct this common entrance exam.
Justice Dave said the three judges of the bench “had no discussion on the subject due to paucity of time” which is normally done.
He said there is no violation of Fundamental Rights of state and private colleges including minority institution by NEET which would ensure that “no extraneous consideration would come into play in the process of selection“.
Suggesting a ‘step—by—step’ approach, the Law Ministry has supported Health Ministry’s plan to take legislative route by amending the Medical Council of India Act in a bid to retain NEET in case it fails to get a positive response to its review plea.