NEET exemption: State submits draft copy of ordinance

Pushpa Narayan

Chennai:  times of india





After back-toback meetings with Union ministers and senior bureaucrats in New Delhi, Tamil Nadu officials have submitted a draft copy of an Ordinance that provides exemption for the state from National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) for two years, health minister C Vijaya Baskar has said.

 

The minister, who has been camping in New Delhi, said the file was handed over to Union home minister Rajnath Singh who is expected to take a decision after discussions with health, HRD and law ministries. And, once the consent is received, the Ordinance can be promulgated and sent for governor's signature, he said.

Unlike on Monday , senior AIADMK leaders including Lok Sabha deputy speaker M Thambidurai refused to give any assurance to students. Asked if there was any hope of exemption from NEET, Thambidurai said: “We don't want to give false news (hope) to students. NEET is over. We are looking for a solution, as some students are affected by it. We cannot give them any assurances now. We are taking our best efforts.Home secretary is not in town. The ministry will decide as soon as he returns.“

Vijaya Baskar said the state would move the Supreme Court against Madras high court order quashing 85% reservation of MBBSBDS seats for state board students.

The Centre is unlikely to agree to the presidential assent for the two TN laws enacted earlier this year. On January 31, the state legislative assembly passed an Act to exclude Tamil Nadu from NEET for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate medical and dental courses.

The state has put admissions on hold in the hope of retaining at least 85% quota for state board students, but the August 31 deadline for completing MBBSBDS admissions is worrying all stake-holders.