TN govt 'failed' to prevent student suicides over medical entrance exam

An advocate has moved the Madras High Court, seeking contempt proceedings against the Tamil Nadu government for "failing" to implement its directions to prevent students failing in medical entrance examination NEET from committing suicide.

The failure on part of the government to take measures to prevent such suicide has resulted in the deaths of two students in the state, advocate A P Suryaprakasham said, while making an urgent mention before Justice N Kirubakaran today.

In August 2017, the judge had directed the government to identify such students and counsel them.

Claiming that even after the court direction, the government had failed to take such steps, Suryaprakasham said if the measures had been taken promptly, the recent deaths of two medical aspirants could have been prevented.

Agreeing to hear the plea on June 13, the judge directed the advocate to file a formal petition in the court.

Since last year, three students have ended their lives in Tamil Nadu reportedly over failure in National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).

While two students -- S Prathiba and Subasri -- committed suicide this week, Anitha, a Dalit girl, ended her life for failing to clear the exam last year.