NEET would be the only admission test for medical courses: Supreme Court

The apex court on Wednesday elaborated that admission to all medical courses across the nation, even those run by minority and private organisations, will be on the basis of NEET exams.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that NEET shall remain the only uniform entrance test for medical admissions in the country.

Noting that NEET has been prescribed by the Legislature in the larger public interest that has to prevail, a three-judge Bench led by Justice Arun Mishra said the provisions were reasonable conditions of recognition, affiliation binding on all such institutions whether run by majority or minority.

"Professional educational institutions constitute a class by themselves. Specific measures to make the administration of such institutions transparent can be imposed. The rights available under Article 30 are not violated by provisions carved out in Section 10 D of the MCI Act and Dentists Act and Regulations framed by MCI/DCI. The regulatory measures are intended for the proper functioning of institutions and to ensure that the standard of education is maintained and does not fall low under the guise of an exclusive right of management to the extent of maladministration. The regulatory measures by prescribing NEET is to bring the education within the realm of charity which character it has lost. It intends to weed out evils from the system and various malpractices which decayed the system. The regulatory measures in no way interfere with the rights to administer the institution by the religious or linguistic minorities," read the judgement by the judges.

The bench observed that the concept of limited government or least interference from them is welcomed but it has to be seen that it doesn't defeat the very national interest. It has to be decided that up to what extent the government can interfere in order to balance rights with national interest and take care of larger public interest.

Conducting NEET exam would help in improving the medical education, public health, promotion of scheduled tribes, castes and other weaker sections by preventing malpractices and economic exploitation of seats, read the order.

Citing the observation made in the case of Secretary, Malankara Syrian Catholic College, the judges said that all the laws made by the state to regulate the administration of educational institutions and grant of aid will apply to minority educational institutions as well but without diluting Article 30. "Article 30 is not above the law," ruled the bench saying that for the welfare of the students and teachers regulations should be applicable else the minorities' institutions would be at a disadvantage when compared to other institutions. The bench said that they find the conditions reasonable, fair and intended to bring transparency in the professional education which has been severely affected by the malpractices.

"The law of the land includes rules and regulations that must apply equally to the majority as well as minority institutions," read the judgement. The judgement was delivered in response to a petition, filed in the Supreme Court which challenged NEET saying that it is a violation of the fundamental rights of the unaided minorities institutions "to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice" protected under Article 30 and read with Articles 25 and 26 of the constitution. The petitioners had argued that the state had limited powers in the admission of students and it can not compel to admit the students through centralised examination like NEET.