Karnataka PU Students approached SC to trash NEET

The Karnataka Pre-University students has approached the Supreme Court to trash National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) about notification issued by the Medical Council of India (MCI) for admission to the Undergraduate Medical courses.

The students were disturbed over the syllabus prescribed by the CBSE for the NEET, the body entrusted with the task of conducting the common entrance exam across the country for MBBA and BDS Courses admission.

In a writ petition filed through advocate G S Kannur, the students urged the court to trash the notification issued by the MCI on Feb 15. Last year, state restrain the CBSE from conducting the NEET for admission to first year MBBS for the academic year 2013-14 and violated the Articled 14 of the constitution.

The students wanted direction form SC to the state government to continue their CET for admission to MBBS course in medical colleges run by the government and government-aided colleges.

"The notification runs in contradiction to the provisions of the Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions (regulation of Admission and Fixation of Fee, Special Provision) Act, 2011, which provides for regulation of admission and seat matrix of medical colleges in Karnataka," the petitions said.

As the NEET test is to be conducted ib English and Hindi only, the students who have studied in Kannada language or their mother tongue will suffer hardship causing disadvantage," the petition, filed by Rakshith Uthappa, Ankitha C, Sumana and others, added.

The students who studied the state syllabus would have to study about 30% more in order to cover the syllabus prescribed by the CBSE. The state government decided to introduce the syllabus prescribed by the CBSE from the academic year 2012-13, the students would not be prejudiced only if the NEET examination is to be held during 2014-15 as they would have two academic years to prepare.

The state government telecasting the programmes to cover the 30% more syllabus of CBSE for NEET in Doordharshan Chandana Channel from 9.15 PM to 10 PM every day till May 2013.

"The students studying the syllabus prescribed by the state may not be able to watch the TV programmes due to electricity problems, lack of televisions in the cities and more so in the villages. Even internet connections may not be available in some homes in cities and rural areas face far greater hardship," the petition claimed.