Don't file review petition on common test: Jayalalithaa

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa has expressed her government's strong objection to the centre's move to appeal against the apex court's judgment quashing the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh July 28, 2013, text of which was released to the media here Monday, the chief minister urged the centre to drop its move to file a review petition against the apex court's decision.

Citing a press statement attributed to union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, she said: "Tamil Nadu strongly objects to any such fresh purported attempts by the government of India to seek a review of the judgment of the Supreme Court and efforts for re-introduction of NEET in any manner as it infringes upon the state's rights and admission policies to medical institutions in Tamil Nadu."

Jayalalithaa said the majority judgment by the apex court has rightly upheld all the valid objections raised by Tamil Nadu along with the contentions of the other petitioners.

She said the common entrance test would have put the students from rural areas to a great disadvantage as they lack resources to join coaching centres as compared to the students in urban areas.

According to her, the abolition of common entrance test for professional undergraduate courses in the state has benefited large number of meritorious students from rural areas.

On July 18, the Supreme Court quashed the notifications of Medical Council of India and Dental Council of India introducing NEET for undergraduate and post-graduate medical and dental courses as ultra vires of the constitution.