Parliament of India Lok Sabha House of the People

DR. P. VENUGOPAL (TIRUVALLUR): Madam Speaker, I thank you very much for having allowed me to raise this very important matter concerning the students’ community in Tamil Nadu.

          The Tamil Nadu Government has been opposing the move of the Centre to introduce the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions. In this regard, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu had written several letters to the Prime Minister of India inviting his attention to the serious impact that it would cause.

          In 2013, the Supreme Court quashed the notification issued by the Medical Council of India and the Dental Council of India for introducing this test for medical admissions. The judgement upheld the valid objections raised by our hon. Chief Minister. But, the Centre has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court.

          Through the letter written to the hon. Prime Minister, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu had expressed strong objection to this move of the Centre as it will infringe upon the autonomy of the State and its right to regulate the admission policies to medical education in Tamil Nadu.

          Madam Speaker, as of now, we have a very vibrant student-friendly and patient-friendly medical admission policy in Tamil Nadu. Our Government has taken a number of steps to ensure that there is a level playing field for students from rural areas who are deprived. In many common examinations for professional course admissions, the rural students are at a disadvantage because they lack basic resources like coaching in training institutes, study materials etc. Considering all this, the Government of Tamil Nadu had abolished the entrance exam for under-graduate courses.

          For the post-graduate medical courses, the Government of Tamil Nadu has a policy of giving preference to those who served in rural areas, and hilly and tribal areas. This move has significantly improved the availability of doctors at remote locations and strengthened the quality of primary health care.

          So, when we have such a vibrant policy, there is no need to have a common entrance test for medical admissions. The Tamil Nadu Government, under the efficient leadership of Amma, strongly objects to the move of the Centre to nullify the judgement of the Supreme Court by filling a review petition.

Hence, I request the Central Government to ensure that the said review petition filed before the Supreme Court is withdrawn for the sake of giving a level playing field to the students and also to ensure that it does not interfere with the State’s authority.

Thank you.

12.56 hours

SUBMISSION BY MEMBER

DR. P. VENUGOPAL (TIRUVALLUR): Madam Speaker, I thank you very much for having allowed me to raise this very important matter concerning the students’ community in Tamil Nadu.

          The Tamil Nadu Government has been opposing the move of the Centre to introduce the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions. In this regard, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu had written several letters to the Prime Minister of India inviting his attention to the serious impact that it would cause.

          In 2013, the Supreme Court quashed the notification issued by the Medical Council of India and the Dental Council of India for introducing this test for medical admissions. The judgement upheld the valid objections raised by our hon. Chief Minister. But, the Centre has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court.

          Through the letter written to the hon. Prime Minister, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu had expressed strong objection to this move of the Centre as it will infringe upon the autonomy of the State and its right to regulate the admission policies to medical education in Tamil Nadu.

          Madam Speaker, as of now, we have a very vibrant student-friendly and patient-friendly medical admission policy in Tamil Nadu. Our Government has taken a number of steps to ensure that there is a level playing field for students from rural areas who are deprived. In many common examinations for professional course admissions, the rural students are at a disadvantage because they lack basic resources like coaching in training institutes, study materials etc. Considering all this, the Government of Tamil Nadu had abolished the entrance exam for under-graduate courses.

          For the post-graduate medical courses, the Government of Tamil Nadu has a policy of giving preference to those who served in rural areas, and hilly and tribal areas. This move has significantly improved the availability of doctors at remote locations and strengthened the quality of primary health care.

          So, when we have such a vibrant policy, there is no need to have a common entrance test for medical admissions. The Tamil Nadu Government, under the efficient leadership of Amma, strongly objects to the move of the Centre to nullify the judgement of the Supreme Court by filling a review petition.

Hence, I request the Central Government to ensure that the said review petition filed before the Supreme Court is withdrawn for the sake of giving a level playing field to the students and also to ensure that it does not interfere with the State’s authority.

Thank you.

12.56 hours

SUBMISSION BY MEMBER