Must clear NEET-UG to pursue medical courses abroad: SC

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court has refused to interfere with a 2018 decision of Medical Council of India (MCI) mandating qualification in NEET as an eligibility criterion to pursue an undergraduate medical course in a foreign institution.

A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K Vinod Chandran said introducing National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) qualification criterion ensures a fair and transparent procedure in the grant of eligibility certificate, and the regulation does not in any manner conflict with the law.

It said, "We find absolutely no reason to interfere with the regulations, in which context, the learned counsel sought for a one-time exemption as applicable to the petitioners. Obviously, after the amended regulations came into effect, if any candidate chose to obtain admission in a foreign institution for pursuing a course leading to a primary medical qualification, they cannot seek for an exemption from the regulations.. This does not restrict their right to practice anywhere outside India."

"The regulations, especially additional mandate to satisfy the eligibility criteria, is not ultra vires the Constitution and neither is it in conflict with any provisions of the Act (Indian Medical Council Act) nor arbitrary or unreasonable. Hence, all the petitions are dismissed," the bench said.


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