Guv returns TN’s anti-NEET bill, govt fumes
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
04.02.2022
Chennai: Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi on Thursday refused to give his assent to the anti-NEET Bill passed by the assembly, saying it was against the interest of students, especially those from rural areas and underprivileged families. The state government objected to the governor’s remarks and convened an all-party meeting on Saturday to decide its course of action.
A release from Raj Bhavan said the governor took the decision after a detailed study of the bill for admission to UG medical courses that seeks to do away with NEET, besides the report of the state government-constituted panel that recommended the move. The high-powered committee, led by Justice (retired) A K Rajan, examined the pre NEET status of social justice in medical admission, especially for students coming from socially and economically underprivileged backgrounds. “The governor returned the bill to the Speaker, Tamil Nadu legislative assembly, on February 1, 2022, giving detailed reasons for its reconsideration by the House,” the release said.
The governor can return the bill “only on sound legal grounds, and not due to his subjective satisfaction”, said Justice K Chandru, former judge of the Madras high court. This decision to return the bill, coupled with the long delay, has rendered the decision clearly unconstitutional, he said.
Ravi’s decision reflects the will of four BJP MLAs, and disregards the collective resolution of 230 MLAs who supported the legislation, Justice Chandru said. “Return of a bill for reconsideration is open only when the issued concerned was never taken note of by the House, not when it has debated and adopted. ” The Supreme Court had examined the issue while hearing the Christian Medical College, Vellore Association Vs Union of India case in 2020, especially from the standpoint of social justice, and upheld NEET as a screening exam.
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