No exemptions from NEET, Minority Institutions are equally bound to comply

Rejecting the objections from minority institutions, deemed universities and all other private colleges, the Supreme Court of India ruled in the favour of NEET.

The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, ruled in the favour of one nation one entrance examination. The top court of India was approached by a cluster of minority and religious institutions stating that the implementation of NEET has taken away their right to admit students as per their policies. The plea also stated that this would devoid the minority students of their rights. The institutions which petitioned against centralised admission through NEET included Christian Medical College, Manipal University, SRM Medical College Hospital, Karnataka Private Medical and Dental Colleges Association, and TMA Pai Foundation.

The Bench constituted by Justice Arun Mishra, Justice Vineet Saran and Justice M R Shah said "When it comes to the eradication of the malpractices that have crept into the system, we have to take into consideration the larger interest of the education countrywide.  The NEET has been prescribed by the Legislature in the larger public interest that has to prevail."

The Minority Institutions were of the opinion that a centralised examination, such as the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), would hamper the interests of the minorities in India. To which the bench added "The conditions are reasonable and cannot be said to be taking away any of the constitutional rights of minority institutions, they are reasonable, fair and intended to bring transparency in the professional education imparted by institutions. They are applicable for all institutions alike minorities are not placed on a disadvantageous platform."

Emphasising that education is a charitable practice but has fallen into the hands of a few who have commercialised it for their own profit, the bench said "it (NEET) has been imposed in national interest considering the malpractices of granting illegal admission by virtually selling the seats in derogation to rights of meritorious students."

Where only the rich and wealthy could take admissions into the medical colleges, the meritorious but poor had to struggle. To complete their education, such students had to take loans and were ‘exploited in the bud before they bloom into flower‘. The bench of Judges also feels that it was important to take such drastic measures to prevent the reputation of the Medical Council of India from being tarnished.

The top court said that the implementation of NEET is for the greater good. Reverting back to the old practices will not be in the national interest. "Building the nation is the main aspect of education, which could not be ignored and overlooked. They have to cater to national interest first, then their interest."

The order released by the Supreme Court concludes with "The regulatory measures by prescribing NEET is to bring the education within the realm of charity which character it has lost. It intends to weed out evils from the system and various malpractices which decayed the system. The regulatory measures in no way interfere with the rights to administer the institution by the religious or linguistic minorities."

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