NEW DELHI: In a passionate appeal in the Rajya Sabha, DMK member P Wilson called on the central government to either abolish the NEET medical entrance exam or approve Tamil Nadu's bill that seeks to exempt the state from this competitive exam. This request comes amidst controversies surrounding alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions.
During the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, Wilson highlighted that the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly had passed the Tamil Nadu Admission to Medical Courses Bill in 2021. Additionally, the assembly had unanimously resolved against the NEET exam, referring to it as the "NEET menace." Despite this, the Bill has been awaiting the Centre's approval for nearly three years, causing considerable anxiety among students and their families.
Wilson urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to either approve the Bill or amend the National Medical Commission Act to abolish NEET at the national level. He emphasized the need for immediate attention to resolve this issue.
Approximately 23.33 lakh students took the NEET-UG 2024 exam, and alleged irregularities, including a question paper leak, have led to court cases and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry. On June 23, the CBI filed an FIR regarding the irregularities in the exam held on May 5, based on a reference from the Union education ministry.
Wilson criticized the delay in the CBI probe, suggesting it might have given "fraudsters" time to tamper with documents and erase evidence. He also raised concerns about the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the NEET, being registered under the Societies Registration Act, similar to a flat owner's or housing society, and lacking statutory backing from the government.
The DMK has historically opposed NEET, having obtained a stay from the Madras High Court when it was first introduced in 2010. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader M K Stalin recently wrote to Prime Minister Modi, reiterating the state's unanimous legislative decision to exempt Tamil Nadu from NEET and requesting medical admissions based on 12th standard marks. He pointed out that the Presidential assent for this Bill is still pending, further validating the state's opposition to NEET due to the recent irregularities in the exam.
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