NHRC orders notice to state govt, CBSE

Chennai: National Human Rights Commission, (NHRC) has ordered notice to the state government and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for severe hardships faced by students, who had to travel across to various states to write National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Neet) conducted by CBSE on Sunday.

A 46-year-old man from Tamil Nadu, who had to travel a long distance of 500 km with his son to appear in Neet at a centre in Kerala, died due to cardiac arrest.

Initiating suo motu proceedings on media report on the incidents, NHRC ordered notice to the chief secretary, Tamil Nadu and chairperson of CBSE.

It also directed the officials to file a detailed report explaining why students had to travel across the state to appear for the examination. NHRC also sought details taken by both the authorities to ensure that such incidents do not recur in future.

NHRC said the contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights.

It appears that the state government and CBSE authorities have failed to provide examination centres to the aspirants within the state, resulting in hardships not only to students but also their parents.

According to the media report of May 7, 2018, a statement by CBSE says that 3,685 medical aspirants from Tamil Nadu had to travel out of state to take the exam.

However, as per news report, CBSE and Neet authorities have not commented why they failed to create enough exam centres within Tamil Nadu. It is also mentioned in the news report that the Tamil Nadu government had announced on May 5th that every student who travelled to other states to appear for Neet will be given train fare in addition to monetary assistance of '1,000 per candidate.