Gujrat holds GUJCET 2016, appeals to SC to conduct NEET in Gujrati

Gujarat: Even though the Supreme Court has rejected the state plea for holding separate CET’s, Gujarat state government conducted the GUJCET 2016 for admissions in medical and dental course, going by its earlier schedule. Incidentally, this examination was held exactly a day after the SC’s verdict on the matter, which is May 10.

Reportedly, the state government has also knocked the door of the apex court, after yesterday’s verdict was declared. The government is now pinning its hope on another application filed in the court for re-consideration of the matter (which is against the NEET verdict). Apparently, it conducted the exam, only to decide later whether GUJCET will be considered for admissions in medical and dental colleges.

The state government is also seeking SC’s permission to conduct NEET in Gujarati. Total 68,000 students are reported to have appeared for the CET, out of which 12,000 took the exam in English, and the rest in Gujarati.

"There are courses other than medical and dental which are covered under GUJCET. Let's see what happens as we have approached the Supreme Court with another application (against the verdict on NEET)," Gujarat government spokesman and Health minister Nitin Patel told the DNA.

Health minister Nitin Patel told TOI, "Early in the morning, we moved the apex court and demanded that the state should be allowed to have the NEET in Gujarati language as it will be difficult for the students to appear for the examination in Hindi or English."

However, this has failed to put to rest the anxiety of many medical aspirants who appeared for the exam yesterday. Several students raised slogans against NEET outside few examination centres. Students across the state expressed their opposition to recognise NEET as a single entrance ticket for admissions in medical colleges.

"At least through these state level exams we had some hopes of making it to the colleges in Gujarat. But with NEET, the Central Board for Secondary Education students will have an advantage. Their preparation is different, our courses are different," a student complained to NDTV.

Even parents made a representation to the government in Gandhinagar. After which, they also met the Chief Minister Anandiben Patel to push the centre to give a solution to the matter.

GUJCET applies for admission physiotherapy, and alternative medicine programmes in addition. This includes courses offered by government, government-aided institutes and private colleges.

NEET Phase II is scheduled on July 24. The results are scheduled to be announced on August 17, for completing the admission process by September 30.