TN: High Court declines to PIL seeking single window for MBBS course

Chennai: The Madras High Cour declined to entertain a PIL seeking single window admission for MBBS courses in Tamil Nadu, and make the admissions transparent by following NEET marks and ranks, and dismissed it saying it was private interest litigation.

The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan, dismissing the PIL of one N Ramanan, said mere surmises and conjectures could not be basis for court orders.

The petitioner is neither an expert in the field of medical education nor an affected party, the bench said.

In his petition, Ramanan contended that MBBS aspirants in Tamil Nadu were in great trouble this year, as they had to apply to each institution separately along with necessary fees.

There was no common regulatory mechanism such as directorate of medical education (DME) as notified in the CBSE publication.

Private medical colleges and deemed universities are adopting a deceptive and misleading strategy and advertise as if NEET rank is followed, he said, adding that there is no clear cut statement in any advertisement or prospectus with regard to NEET norms for admissions.

In the absence of a common nodal agency, students' interest will be in jeopardy, and the triple test -- fairness, transparency and non-exploitation - - laid down by the Supreme Court will be sacrificed totally.

Private institutions are adopting their own procedure and do not give NEET marks and rank its due, the PIL said, adding, "non-interference of Tamil Nadu government also has contributed to this crisis."

Ramanan wanted the court to direct the state government to form an oversight committee under the directorate of medical education by issuing a public notice, so that single window system of admission can be done on the basis of NEET rank in a transparent manner.

NEET was then notified by the centre on May 24.