Why anti-NEET activists are using the pandemic to push for NEET to be removed in MBBS admissions this year

With the pandemic forcing the entire world to rethink methods of teaching and evaluation, the State Platform for Common School System, Tamil Nadu has also decided to bring up a demand that they had been making pre-NEET. The Platform has written to the State Government demanding the introduction of fresh bills in the Legislative Assembly to provide medical college admissions based on candidates’ board exam scores. 

Prince Gajendra Babu, the General Secretary of the Platform writes that NEET had failed to abolish commercialisation of education and on the contrary had only encouraged it. He also said that the exam had discouraged first generation learners from pursuing medicines and the impact of this would show soon enough when there is a scarcity of doctors in primary health centres. “The Constitutional Provisions empowering the State to decide on admission to the University Course has also been affirmed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee in its Report. It has also been reiterated by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. But that has not been fully deliberated to ensure the Right of the State Government to decide the process of admission in Medical UG and PG Courses by the States themselves,” he wrote in his letter.

He further invoked the constitution, and Article 246 that categorises education under the concurrent list. The activist also said that it had been that the political mandate for the public in Tamil Nadu was exemption of NEET. “In 2016, during the campaign for the election to Tamil Nadu State Legislative Assembly the then Chief Minister and General Secretary of the AIADMK, J Jayalalithaa, had promised in the election rally held in Palayankotttai that if her party returns to power she will enact a law for admission into UG Medical courses without NEET,” he said. 

“We earnestly request the Government of Tamil Nadu to kindly consider all the facts placed above and take necessary measures to expeditiously introduce Bills in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly to provide admission for UG / PG Medical Courses in Government Colleges and Government Seats in Private Colleges in Tamil Nadu based on the Higher Secondary Marks for UG and State Admission Policy for PG and on passage of the Bills take necessary measures to secure the Assent of the President of India for the Bills. If the Legislative Assembly cannot be convened at the earliest, the Government of Tamil Nadu may consider promulgating an ordinance and take necessary measures to secure the Assent of the President of India for the Ordinance,” he said in his letter to the Chief Minister.