SC may permit state-level CET alongside NEET

The Supreme Court on Friday said the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) will continue but it may permit a state-level common entrance test (CET) for admission to government medical colleges only.

However, this will be subject to the stand to be spelt out by the Centre on Monday, IANS reported.

Making it clear that there would be no exemption for private medical colleges from NEET, an apex court bench headed by Justice Anil R Dave indicated that it may permit CET for government medial college admissions after Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar told the court that state education ministers were slated to meet central authorities to resolve the issue.

A djourning the hearing till 2 pm on Monday when the Centre will apprise the court of the outcome of the meeting of the ministers on the issue, the court also sought a response if candidates who had appeared in the first phase of NEET on 1 May could be allowed to reappear in the NEET second phase on 24 July.

Meanwhile, the Medical Council of India (MCI) told the apex court that it favoured grant of exemption from NEET in favour of state-level CET for admission to government medical colleges, and that only those candidates who had missed the 1 May NEET for whatever reasons may be allowed to appear in the second phase test on 24 July.

However, it is clarified that no examination shall be permitted to be held for admission to MBBS or BDS studies by any private college or association or any private/deemed university.

The issue with regard to those students, who had appeared or who are due to appear in examinations conducted by the States in accordance with their State laws, shall be decided after hearing the Solicitor General.

Those students who had appeared at NEET Phase-I shall not be permitted to appear at NEET Phase-II but the students who could not appear at NEET phase-I may appear at NEET phase-II.