Private medical entrance tests cancelled with decision on NEET

After the recent Supreme Court’s order on cancellation of separate medical entrance examination by state private institutes, a number of such universities across states have postponed, or even cancelled their plan to hold a private medical entrance test. The final decision will come after today's hearing at 2 p.m.

The decision will affect many medical aspirants seeking admission in the various medical and dental courses in the state, conducted by the Consortium of Medical, Engineering, and Dental Colleges (COMEDK).

They will now be required to secure admission on merit basis through NEET, with the second part of the exam to be conducted on July 24, 2-16.

Karnataka Religious and Linguistic Minority Professional Colleges’ Association (KRLMPCA) has cancelled its examination. This exam provided admission for MBBS to religious and linguistic minority institutions. KLE University (deemed university) registrar V.D. Patil told Hindu, " the university would go ahead with entrance tests for a slew of non-medical, non-dental courses, including B.Pharm., BAMS, and Pharm.D. as per schedule."

Commenting on the matter, Shafi Ahmed, secretary of the association, told the media that, “We will follow the line of COMEDK, but an official decision will be taken on Monday when all members meet. The meeting will also discuss other matters such as reimbursing students the application fees,” he said.

There are more individual institutes who have cancelled the examination following the Supreme Court’s order. Fr Muller Medical College, Mangaluru, is one of them. Director Fr Patrick Rodrigues in his statement to the press implied that, “even though we have always done admissions through COMEDK exam, this year we are left with no choice.”

Another university planning to postpone its exam is Nitte University, Mangaluru, which was scheduled earlier for today. The exam has been postponed by the institute indefinitely. The Yenepoya University Assistant Registrar Nandeesh is anticipating the final decision of the court of Monday, to take a final call on the schedule of the examination on May 23. Manipal University is also awaiting the final word from Supreme Court, even though they have conducted the exam earlier.

Bharati Vidyapeeth University and Institute at Pune, given the present circumstances, has decided to hold entrance examinations only for Ayurveda and Homeo admissions.

From Maharashtra, Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), has decided to postpone the exam date from May 7, while Christian Medical College (CMC) in Ludhiana has also deferred its exam date of May 17. St Johns Medical College is waiting for notification on NEET.

In the interim, the Telangana Private Medical Colleges' Management Association (TPMCMA) has expressed its willingness to accept the Eamcet rankings. They intend to take students for their 'B' category management quota seats based on the Eamcet rankings. Telangana has been seeking exemption from the SC decision on NEET on technical and legal grounds, and the Telangana State Council for Higher Education (TSCHE) is expecting a decision in its favor to conduct the exam on May 15. Also, the TPMCMA's private medical entrance (MCET-2016) is unlikely to be held.

"If we are not allowed to have our own private entrance by the Supreme Court, then we are prepared to fill up our 35% 'B' category management seats in 15 private medical colleges in Telangana on the basis of the Eamcet ranks," said C Laxminarsimha Rao, convenor, TPMCMA, the consortium of private medical colleges in Telangana to TOI.