"It is extremely unfortunate that the Centre has decided to put on hold the Supreme Court's order. There are various allegations that an attempt is being made to sell admissions in medical colleges. It is also said that Rs 20,000 crore is spent on admissions every year. So, they are promoting business," Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain claimed.
Referring to a media report claiming that 80 MPs have medical colleges and such MPs are both from Congress and BJP, Jain said, "This was being done to ensure that politicians do not face problems in collecting donations during admissions in medical colleges."
Under mounting pressure from several states, Centre today gave its nod for promulgation of an ordinance to keep state boards out of the ambit of uniform medical entrance examination, NEET, for this year.
The ordinance, cleared by the Union Cabinet this morning, is aimed at "partially" overturning the Supreme Court verdict which said all government colleges, deemed universities and private medical colleges would be covered under NEET.
The next phase of the exam is scheduled for July 24. Nearly 6.5 lakh students have already taken the medical entrance test in the first phase of NEET held on May 1.
They, however, will have to become part of the uniform entrance exam from next academic session, government sources said.
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