NEET: Madras HC Dismisses TN Govt.’s Appeal on 85% Reservation for State Board Students

On July 31, 2017, High Court of Tamil Nadu dismissed the appeal filed by the state government against the single judge order that quashed the 85% reservation for the state board students in MBBS and BDS courses. According to the High Court, the appeal filed by the state government was discriminatory which indicated only 15% reservation for CBSE students. Advocate General R. Muthukumaraswamy submitted the data to the Madras HC according to which around 2,000 state board students and 520 CBSE students would get admission to MBBS/ BDS course under the reservation system as proposed by the state government.

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On July 17, 2017, the single judge who quashed the order earlier directed the authorities to prepare a fresh merit list and conduct the counselling for MBBS and BDS courses. The judge also indicated that the order passed by the state government of Tamil Nadu violated Article 14 (Right to Equality) of the Indian Constitution. Similarly, it contradicts with the guidelines of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).

On July 14, 2017, the state government decided to appeal against the single judge order. C. Vijayabaskaran, Minister of Health and Family Welfare expressed that the state government was committed to its ‘policy decision’. Earlier, the Supreme Court of India refused to hear a plea on the same.

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Representatives and ministers of Tamil Nadu also met the Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and other officials of PMO to seek exemption from NEET. It seems that the centre is not willing to allow 85% reservation for state board students and 15% reservation for CBSE students. The centre has not given assent to the Bills passed by the state government refraining itself from NEET.