Tamil Nadu Passes Resolution To Scrape NEET, Allow State To Admit Students Based On Class 12th Mark (Photo @nabilajamal_)
After the Kerala government passed a resolution urging the central government to conduct a comprehensive probe into the alleged irregularities of the NEET-UG 2024 examination, the neighbouring state, Tamil Nadu today unanimously passed a resolution, asking the Centre to scrape NEET and allow the state government to undertake medical admissions based on class 12 marks.
The state has long demanded the exception of NEET for its students since its introduction in 2017 following the 2016 Supreme Court ruling. The mandatory examination for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate medical degree courses has been vociferously opposed by Tamil Nadu. Several students committed suicide due to the transition to NEET in medical admission, with the victims mainly poor students who secured higher marks in higher secondary and could not afford expensive coaching to prepare for the competitive examination.
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However, introducing the resolution, Chief Minister MK Stalin said that the Union Government should allow the state government to admit students to medical courses based on Class 12 marks. “The NEET examination system, which severely affects the medical education opportunities of poor rural students, makes schooling redundant and deprives the rights of the state governments to admit students in its government medical colleges, should be abolished,” the resolution said.
It also demanded the central government to “immediately provide its assent to the NEET exemption” to exempt Tamil Nadu from NEET while urging to make necessary amendments in the National Medical Commission Act so that the NEET system is scrapped at the national level considering the “repeated irregularities in the NEET examinations.”
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Notably, regional parties including Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), supported the resolution, while the BJP walked out, marking their protest against the resolution.
The single window medical examination recently sparked controversy after students alleged irregularities following the declaration of results on June 4. The exam was held in May.
The revelation of the paper leak and the confession of the students stirred protests across the country. The government removed the NTA chief and entrusted the CBI to investigate the case. The Education Ministry today sought suggestions and ideas to submit before the committee constituted to recommend reforms in the examination process.
