TN’s all-party meet chaired by Stalin resolves to take legal steps to get Neet abolished

CHENNAI: An all-party meeting convened by chief minister M K Stalin has unanimously resolved that the Tamil Nadu govt must take all necessary steps, including legal measures, to abolish the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (Neet) and protect the rights of the students in the state.

Deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin moved a resolution during the meeting in the legislative assembly on Wednesday. The House regretted that the Union govt refused to give assent to the Neet exemption bill passed by it to protect the welfare of students in the state. “The House expresses its regret and condemnation over this refusal,” said a resolution.

Another resolution said the Neet has created a major barrier for rural, poor and govt school students in pursuing medical education and has severely affected social justice, federalism and state rights.

Earlier, addressing the meeting, Stalin said the Union govt introduced Neet amendment law and passed the National Medical Commission Act that imposed Neet as mandatory for medical admissions, severely affecting Tamil Nadu students. The Union govt has taken away the states’ rights to decide how students should be admitted to medical colleges established by the state govts, he said.

“Neet benefits only those who can afford special coaching, and thus, it's a gross injustice. We have continuously fought against it in public forums. After assuming office in 2021, we launched a strong legal and political campaign. We formed a committee under retired judge Justice A K Rajan to study whether Neet adversely affects students from underprivileged communities,” Stalin said.

He said the committee found that Neet acted as a barrier for students from marginalized backgrounds and benefited only those from socially and economically privileged classes. Neet reduced diverse social representation in MBBS and higher medical courses, he said.

He said the Tamil Nadu govt proposed the Neet Exemption Bill on Sept 13, 2021 and sent it to the governor (R N Ravi) for his assent.

“It should have been promptly sent to the President by the governor, but he delayed and acted politically, which is disappointing. When he returned it on Feb 1, 2022, we immediately convened an all-party meeting on Feb 5, 2022 and decided to re-enact the bill. The re-enacted bill was sent again on Feb 8, 2022. I met the Hon’ble governor, the Prime Minister, and the Union home minister to seek approval. Our MPs submitted a petition to the Hon’ble President,” he said.

Stalin said the governor sent the bill to the Union home ministry on May 4, 2022. "Despite all our legal explanations to the Union ministries of Health, Ayush, Home, and Higher education, the Union govt rejected Neet exemption bill. I recently shared this painful outcome in the legislative assembly. But our struggle is far from over. As I stated in the legislative assembly, we will continue with legal action and seek advice from legal experts,” he said.

Stalin maintained that Neet was not an untouchable exam. “It (Neet) was pushed by private coaching centres and vested interests. Even the CBI is probing irregularities related to Neet in several states. Yesterday’s Supreme Court verdict (declaring that governors are constitutionally bound to act expeditiously on bills and cannot withhold assent) gives us great hope. I believe that with a clean and determined legal fight, we can secure exemption from Neet,” said Stalin.