CHENNAI: Even as the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday unanimously adopted two Bills to bypass the Centre’s National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) to enroll students for medical and dental courses, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam assured that all available legal options will be explored to bring education back into the State list.
The Tamil Nadu Admission to MBBS and Dental Courses Act, 2017, aimed at continuing the current mechanism of admitting students to undergraduate courses based on the Plus Two scores and the Tamil Nadu Admission to Postgraduate Courses in Medicine and Dentistry Act, 2017, were passed through voice vote with Opposition Benches joining the bandwagon to do away with the national-level entrance test which, it is feared, will deprive rural students of their opportunity to join medical courses.
Buoyed by the success and response to Jallikattu Bill, the AIADMK government seems to have moved the legislation to protect the interests of Tamil Nadu students aiming to pursue medical education. However, the real test lies in getting the nod of the Governor and the President because their approval is crucial.
Replying to DMK member K Ponmudi during the debate, Panneerselvam said the House will take all necessary steps to get the nod of the Governor and President to the Bills. “We will consult legal experts on the issue of bringing back Education into the State List. All legal measures will be explored in this regard,” he told the House.