3 mths on, guv yet to forward anti-NEET Bill to President

3 mths on, guv yet to forward anti-NEET Bill to President

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:29.12.2021

The Tamil Nadu assembly’s unanimous anti-NEET Bill seeking to nullify the national-level test for MBBS admissions is still lying with the governor’s office, more than three months after it was sent to the Raj Bhavan. The governor is yet to forward it to the President for assent.

The information was furnished in response to an application under the Right To Information (RTI) Act filed by P B Prince Gajendrababu, general secretary of State Platform for Common School System (SPCSS). The RTI plea sought to know the action taken by the governor on the Bill and its current status.

R N Ravi assumed charge as Governor of Tamil Nadu on September 18. In his reply dated December 17, S Venkateshwaran, under secretary to governor/ public information officer, stated that "the file is under consideration."

Tamil Nadu Assembly passed The Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Medical Degree Courses Act, 2021 on September 13, to provide admission to medical courses only on the basis of Class XII marks in board examinations.

"Though Article 200 of the Constitution did not specify the time limit for the governor, it says the decision may be taken "as soon as possible." A governor is entitled to take his time to study the Bill and seek legal advice. However, the Constitution does not allow undue delay," Prince Gajendrababu told TOI. He further urged the governor to send the Bill to the President for assent.

SPCSS president P Ratnasabapathy said the forum would go on a hunger strike on January 30 demanding presidential assent to the NEET Bill.

A high-level committee, headed by Justice A K Rajan, former judge of Madras high court, set up by the DMK government in June, reported to the government that NEET had undermined the diverse societal representation in MBBS and higher medical courses, favoured affluent groups and thwarted the dream of underprivileged to pursue medical education. The committee said the NEET neither seemed to ensure merit nor standard of the students being offered MBBS under its purview.

Following the recommendation, the state government adopted the Bill with the support of all Opposition parties, except BJP, in the assembly.