The Union health ministry wants a review of the Supreme Court judgement on common admission exam for all medical courses in the country and has written to the law ministry for its opinion on the matter. After consulting legal experts, the ministry feels that it should challenge the apex court verdict on NEET based on contention of the third judge who gave the dissent note.
The ministry is awaiting the law ministry's reply before initiating further steps in this regard. The law ministry is expected to seek the advice of the attorney general on the matter before taking a final view on the issue. A review can be sought within 30 days of the verdict. The Supreme Court had on July 18 quashed the Medical Council of India’s (MCI’s) notification calling for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for medicine, dentistry and postgraduate medical courses, saying that the organization didn't have the right to do so. The health ministry has written to the law ministry recommending for seeking a review of the SC order along with its comments which are based on the stand taken by justice Anil R Dave in his dissent note that favoured the common test as it is not only legal but also a boon for students aspiring to join the medical profession.
The decision to seek a review was taken after consultations with senior officials of the ministry and approved by health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. Azad had earlier said that legal recourse to the SC order is the only option available as the apex court order will create difficulties for students aspiring for medical degrees. An "upset" Azad had contended that the court order will
lead to problems for those aspiring for medical degrees, as students across the country now have to run from pillar to post and sit in different examinations but still they are left with limited options. He had said that a lot of time and money has been wasted in holding the NEET which would have proved a boon for students who would have to give just one examination for admission to medical colleges.
