The Goa Chief Minister and his legal team, who are giving a last shot to protect the interests of over 5000 students, after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of one single test for MBBS and dentistry through the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), have a tough road ahead. The SC in a sudden decision to approve May 1 as the date has left absolutely no time for aspirants to prepare for it.
While the Goa Common Entrance Tests, a state level exam for admission to Goa’s colleges will be held on May 10 and 11, the GCET will become irrelevant. Under NEET, local students will compete according to the state merit list for 85% for the seats in State colleges, while they can use the NEET scores to compete in other States under the 15% quota for non locals. Where does that leave the GCET?
The state must deal with this on priority since an absolute trauma like situation prevails in the homes of students and their parents. The Centre, CBSE and the Medical Council of India (MCI) proposal for treating All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) as NEET-1 and letting others not appearing for AIPMT take another exam called NEET-2 on July 24, has been accepted by the Apex Court. Goan students would have had no issue with that provided they were given advance notice giving them time to prepare.
Goa will file an application in the Supreme Court on Monday, requesting that parity should be given to Goan students to appear for NEET on July 24 so that they can give a shot at both NEET and the GCET. From the legal point of view, it is important to note that the Supreme Court has rejected opposition for holding NEET by states, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Association of Karnataka Medical Colleges, besides minority institutions like CMC, Vellore. Moreover the Supreme Court did not allow the plea seeking urgent hearing for modification of the April 28 order passed by another bench allowing more time to appear for NEET.
Another issue that will go against Goan students is that the NEET exam will be based on the NCERT syllabus followed by CBSE schools. And cover class XI and XII, while GCET is based only on the Class XII syllabus. If the Supreme Court doesn’t intervene a majority of students may actually lose one academic year. Even those who appear for the NEET exams (Sunday) would appear with half baked or no preparation.
The Court’s order directing that the NEET phase 1 be held on May 1, has surprised even the government. Last month, the Union Health Ministry had said that it was practically not possible” to conduct the examinations this year. However there is a larger issue that needs to be addressed. Will this order completely subvert the role of State institutions in controlling the admission process and look into local societies needs? For instance private minority managements like Christian Medical College, Vellore, admit 85% of students through community and church-sponsored networks.
Former Chief Justice Altamas Kabir, who had quashed NEET, (whose order was recalled) wrote in his judgment, “The right to admit students in different educational and medical institutions was an integral part of the right to administer and it could not be interfered with except in cases of maladministration or lack of transparency.”
The order enforcing NEET infringes upon the State’s right to determine admission policies and affects the spirit of federalism. However, at the end of the day, the country needs better doctors. But the argument that a centrally administered test will ensure better medical students getting into the system hasn’t passed the test of scrutiny and evidence. The immediate loss and hardship to students is however clearly evident.
