NEET row: Ordinance to be challenged in SC

Confusion and uncertainty have made a comeback in the lives of medical aspirants. Candidates who have taken admission to government medical colleges as per the CET (Common Entrance Test) score, are in panic as the ordinance that approves their admission is now being challenged in the Supreme Court (SC). These students have not even applied for phase II of the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) that is scheduled on July 24. The hearing will be held on July 12.

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While candidates prepared for CET, as per the SC order, NEET was mandated for all medical course admissions across India. However, following requests by state governments, an ordinance was passed by the Centre which clarified that CET scores will determine admissions to government colleges and NEET scores will be considered for private medical admissions. Following the order, phase II of NEET was instructed for those who hadn't appeared for All India Pre-Medical Test, later termed as NEET phase I. As tensed students and parents moved on with the situation; there is again a setback with the ordinance being challenged by the original petitioners.

Though the upcoming hearing doesn't make much difference to students who have applied for NEET phase II, for those who haven't, it is going to be a stressful fortnight. A tensed parent, Rajeev Shastri, said, "My son's admission to a government college is almost finalised as he scored well in CET. Now, a sword of uncertainty looms over our head."