Wrap-up: Finally, clarity on Neet

In a huge relief to lakhs of students, the Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay at this stage the Neet ordinance allowing States to admit students in medical and dental courses in government colleges on the basis of their own common entrance tests and exempting them from the purview of Neet.

A vacation bench of Justices Prafulla C. Pant and D.Y. Chandrachud, by declining to pass any interim order put an end to the uncertainty created by the Centre’s flip-flop. The bench said, “an ordinance has been issued. It has the force of a law. There is no legislative incompetence in it. The validity can be challenged, but no interim order can be granted. It cannot be stayed.”

Appearing for Dr Anand Rai, whistle blower and right activist, senior counsel contended that the May 24 ordinance was brought to upset the May 9 order laying down a ‘one nation one test’ for admission to undergraduate medical and dental courses across the country. He said that if the ordinance was not stayed, it would result in considerable hardships to lakhs of students preparing for the exams.

DC take:
Finally there appears to be some clarity on the contentious National Eligibility cum Entrance Test. The top court, which more than often  comes to the rescue of the harried lot, has taken the most appropriate view by refusing to stay the Neet ordinance. Students throughout the length and breadth of the country have faced anxious moments for the last month or so. They were right in saying that a new format of examination cannot be brought into force at the drop of a hat. Students must be given adequate time for preparations.