SC Rejects Plea Seeking Stay on Common Medical Entrance Exam Ordinance

The Supreme Court rejected a plea seeking a stay on the Common Medical Entrance Examination Ordinance on Thursday, July 14, saying it was not proper. Justice AR Dave, Head of the Bench, told Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi that they would be reviewing the validity of the ordinance.

The top court on May 9 said that admissions to MBBS and BDS courses at all government and private medical colleges this year would be done through the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), scrapping the exams conducted by state governments and private colleges. But some states were exempted from the exam under the orders given on May 24. The NEET was to be held in two phases, and the second test was scheduled for July 24.

The petitioner, Sankalp Charitable Trust, said the ordinance was in violation of constitutional ethos and should be stayed immediately and not be allowed to become a precedent. But the court said, “We are not interfering as it will create more chaos. If we pass any order, they (students) will be in a total mess.”
The court refused to entertain a second plea by the petitioner for centralized counseling of candidates for various entrance tests.