Tamil Nadu considers sub-quota for govt school NEET passouts

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government is reportedly considering providing a sub-quota for government school students passing the prestigious National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). The information to this effect was announced by Chief Minister K Palaniswami on March 21st.

He stated during a recent state assembly session that the number of government school students joining medical colleges in the state after the introduction of NEET has come down. The government was already involved in a "legal battle" against NEET in the Supreme Court, he added informing the members that the government was mulling enacting a special law to enable a sub-quota for government school students from the state clearing the test.

This will apply for students who had studied from Class Class I to XII in government, corporation and municipality-run schools, among others, he added.

Stating that admission of students to medical courses based on NEET qualification was implemented in 2016-17 academic year by the Centre, he mentioned that due to former chief minister late J Jayalalithaa''s efforts, Tamil Nadu was given an exemption that year. "Amma government, public, and the state strongly oppose NEET," he said, adding, a resolution was passed in the Assembly in 2017 opposing it.

Palaniswami said the government has filed a case in the Supreme Court against NEET where the government was highlighting how it was affecting rural students. The Chief Minister said after implementing NEET, the number of government school students opting to study in medical colleges in the state has decreased. The government was firm that this should not continue, he added.

In November last year, the division bench at Madras HC, comprising Justices N Kirubakaran and P Velmurugan had stated that NEET discriminates against the poor and instead of giving the expected good results, has benefited only students who spend lakhs of rupees on coaching classes and put rural students at a disadvantage.