New Delhi|HL Correspondent
Supreme Court of India has approved the common entrance test NEET (National Eligibility Entrance Test) for students seeking to enter medical courses MBBS and BDS.
The exam will be conducted in two phases. It approved the CBSE schedule to conduct the exam on May 1, 2016. In fact, the court agreed to consider the All India PMT exam, scheduled on May 1, as phase-1 of NEET.
The second phase of exam will be on July 24, 2016. And the joint results will be declared on August 17, followed by counselling and admissions sessions.
The admission procedure will be completed by September 30.
The bench headed of court by Justice Anil R. Dave, gave its approval to the two-phase holding of the examination by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), as it declined the submission by certain states and associations of private medical colleges not to force NEET on them.
NEET, which was declared illegal and unconstitutional by SC in 2013, was restored on April 11 after a five-judge Constitution bench recalled the earlier verdict and allowed the Centre and the Medical Council of India (MCI) to implement the common entrance test till the court decides afresh on its validity.
Despite the revival of NEET, the authorities failed to implement it, forcing NGO Sankalp Charitable Trust to approach SC for enforcing the mechanism for a common test for admission in MBBS, BDS and PG courses in all colleges.
“A student seeking admission in a medical college has to shell out lakhs of rupees in taking an examination and most of the tests are not conducted in a fair manner. There is no impediment in way of implementing NEET after the Constitution bench verdict and the Centre should be directed to enforce the order in association with MCI and CBSE,” Kumar told the bench.
Lakhs of students appear for various medical entrance examinations in more than 400 colleges and there are more than 52,000 seats available for MBBS courses.
6.5 lakh students will appear in first phase.
