No NEET relief for private colleges: SC

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court here on Friday refused any exemption to the NEET rule for private and deemed university medical and dental colleges, but conceded the appeal of the government colleges to hold their own entrance examinations for admissions this year. The exemption here is applicable for this year only, it ruled.

Apex court, however, concedes appeal by the governments to hold own entrance examinations for admissions to government colleges this year alone 

It is all set to continue hearing the case again on Monday to deliver its final judgment. This is the second consecutive day that the three-judge bench was hearing the case afresh after the Chief Justice bench directed the petitioners to approach the three-judge bench afresh. 

It may be recalled that earlier a five-judge bench headed by Justice A R Dave ruled that NEET



was on from this year itself and directed the governments, the MCI and the CBSE to implement the order from this academic year itself.

The plea of the State governments that those studying in regional languages in the qualifying examinations would face hardships and hence must be given an exemption was turned down by the bench on Friday. However, the government colleges could be allowed to do so for this year alone, it said when senior counsel representing the Telangana government, Harish Rawal, presented his argument in this regard.

Additional Solicitor General Ranjith Kumar pleaded for some more time as several States opposed the NEET and the Centre needed to study the issue in depth at least for two days. As for the private and Deemed University colleges, there would be no relief and they should come under NEET system from this academic year itself.