New Delhi: The Supreme Court has ruled that the common entrance exam held by the Medical Council of India or MCI will not continue because it is not empowered to do so.
Private medical and dental universities and colleges now have the right to conduct their own entrance exams for under-graduate and post-graduate degrees. Critics point out that in many of these institutions, admissions are sold instead of being based on merit. Without a common entrance exam, they argue, the colleges will have a free run to sell seats.
The three judges who heard the case included Chief Justice Altamas Kabir. Two said that the council is not empowered to conduct the exam. One disagreed.
"Holding of National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) is legal, practical and is the need of the society. Hence, I have dissented," Justice Anil R Dave said.
The judges made it clear that the verdict will not affect the admissions which have already taken place.
The Press Trust of India reported that the Union Health Ministry, which has been conducting the common entrance exam since 2009, has sought legal opinion on whether it can file a review petition on the Supreme Court order.
"MBBS seats are sold upto 40 to 60 lakh...post-graduate seats are sold for upto two crore rupees and this will get worse," said Dr Ravindranath who belongs to an organisation called Doctors for Social Equality, which is committed to eradicate "poverty and suffering" in Tamil Nadu.
But the management of private colleges, many of who had fought the common entrance exam, deny malpractices and say they must have the right to determine their own admission processes including exams.
Students also worry that they will now have to spend much more on traveling to different places for multiple entrance exams. Aravint Santhosh, who is 18 and studying in Chennai, said that students will now have to prepare for an array of exams for Delhi's famous AIIMs, the Armed Forces College, and others.
Private medical and dental universities and colleges now have the right to conduct their own entrance exams for under-graduate and post-graduate degrees. Critics point out that in many of these institutions, admissions are sold instead of being based on merit. Without a common entrance exam, they argue, the colleges will have a free run to sell seats.
The three judges who heard the case included Chief Justice Altamas Kabir. Two said that the council is not empowered to conduct the exam. One disagreed.
"Holding of National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) is legal, practical and is the need of the society. Hence, I have dissented," Justice Anil R Dave said.
The judges made it clear that the verdict will not affect the admissions which have already taken place.
The Press Trust of India reported that the Union Health Ministry, which has been conducting the common entrance exam since 2009, has sought legal opinion on whether it can file a review petition on the Supreme Court order.
"MBBS seats are sold upto 40 to 60 lakh...post-graduate seats are sold for upto two crore rupees and this will get worse," said Dr Ravindranath who belongs to an organisation called Doctors for Social Equality, which is committed to eradicate "poverty and suffering" in Tamil Nadu.
But the management of private colleges, many of who had fought the common entrance exam, deny malpractices and say they must have the right to determine their own admission processes including exams.
Students also worry that they will now have to spend much more on traveling to different places for multiple entrance exams. Aravint Santhosh, who is 18 and studying in Chennai, said that students will now have to prepare for an array of exams for Delhi's famous AIIMs, the Armed Forces College, and others.
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