Bengaluru: More than 16,000 students who appeared for NEET Phase I from the state can appear for the NEET Phase II after giving up their candidature. NEET phase II is scheduled for July 24, but the apex court has given the CBSE, MCI and central boards the facility to change the date if required.
On Monday, Supreme Court in its order also made it clear that states cannot hold their own entrance test for the MBBS and BDS admissions. This means in Karnataka only non main medical courses like Ayurveda, Unani, Sidda, Homeopathy seats could be filled up through CET examination which was held on May 4 and 5.
Supreme Court: Medical seats only through NEET
The Bench in its order said "Prima facie, we do not find any infirmity in the NEET regulation on the ground that it affects the rights of the States or the private institutions. Special provisions for reservation of any category are not subject matter of the NEET nor rights of minority are in any manner affected by NEET. NEET only provides for conducting entrance test for eligibility for admission to the MBBS/BDS course. We thus, do not find any merit in the applications seeking modification of order dated 28th April, 2016. Only other contention relates to perceived hardship to the students who have either applied for NEET-I but could not appear or who appeared but could not prepare fully thinking that the preparation was to be only for 15% All India seats and there will be further opportunity to appear in other examinations.”
It’ll be neat and efficient: Students back NEET
The Supreme Court has reserved its verdict on whether states should be allowed to conduct their medical entrance test for admission to MBBS and BDS course but many students feel the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) is the best tool to eradicate malpractices and corruptions associated with the medical admission process.
Speaking to this newspaper, an officer from the state medical education department said this is the first step towards bringing radical changes in the medical admission process across Karnataka. "The medical admission process here is known for irregularities like seat blocking, ‘package UG and PG courses.’ All these will become a thing of the past soon," he said. There will be no problem for students, said officials with the apex court making it clear on Monday that the examination should be conducted in seven regional languages. "We are waiting for the full order. If the SC asks CBSE to hold the examination in Kannada language too, it will solve the problems of rural students," he said.
Students feel NEET can bring transparency in the medical admission process. "I had appeared for the NEET phase I exam held on May 1. It was totally transparent. There is no need to doubt the credibility of the examination. Contrary to this, examinations conducted by the state agencies always face one charge or the other. I am happy with this order," said Sharath Sharma, a II PUC student and a medical seat aspirant. State quota seats will also not be a problem according to officials of the state medical education department. "Seats will be allocated based on the state policy including reservation and domicile. But all these seats will be allotted based on the NEET ranking. NEET will have two rankings. One is national ranking for admission to All India Quota seats. Another will be the state rank which is to fill up state quota seats," explained an officer from the medical education department.
