Supreme Court agrees to have a relook at its verdict scrapping NEET

The Supreme Court has agreed to have a relook at its judgement scrapping the single common entrance test for admissions to MBBS, BDS and post-graduate courses in all medical colleges which was delivered three months back.

The apex court decided to grant oral hearing to the Centre and various other petitioners who had sought review of its July 18 majority (2-1) verdict that had quashed the notification for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) on the ground that it violated the rights of private institutions to administer such institutions.

A bench headed by Justice H L Dattu issued notice to all private and minority medical colleges on whose plea the apex court had scrapped NEET.

"Application for oral hearing is granted. Issue notice," the bench also comprising justices A R Dave and Vikramajit Sen said in its brief order.

A review petition is normally decided in chamber proceedings without giving an opportunity to parties concerned to argue the case.

The judgement quashing NEET was delivered by a three- judge bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir (now retired) by a 2-1 division.

The view of the then CJI was shared by Justice Vikramjit Sen, while Justice A R Dave had dissented and upheld NEET, saying the policy was "legal" as it would stop corrupt practice which enabled undeserving students to get admissions by paying huge capitation fees or donations.

One of the petitioners seeking review, NGO 'Sankalp', said in its plea that the minority view in the judgement rightly held that if NEET is conducted under the supervision of the apex professional body, no extraneous and irrelevant factors like caste, creed, social or economic standing would come into play.

"One of the main objectives of having NEET was to check rampant corruption/backdoor entries of non-deserving candidates to this highly skilled and respected profession," the petition said while referring to a recent sting operation on how seats in medical colleges were sold in return for huge money.

"The majority judgement completely erred in observing that there has not been any complaint of maladministration in the admission process in these private colleges," it said.

PTI