NEET will deprive Assam students: CM

Decision can affect country's federal structure, warns Gogoi

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, May 3: In view of the Supreme Court’s April 28 ruling on holding tiol Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), the Assam government has decided to put in abeyance its scheduled Common Entrance Examition (CEE) for MBBS and BDS courses.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said on Tuesday that the decision on holding NEET for admission into MBBS and BDS will deprive students of Assam and other Northeastern states as majority of them reside in rural and semi-urban areas and a different syllabus has been thrust upon them in the guise of NEET.

In a press release, Gogoi said, “We fully understand the apprehensions of the students and their parents as the State government has decided to file a review petition before the Supreme Court”. Appealing to the students not to get bogged down by the recent developments, the Chief Minister called upon them to prepare full throttle for the NEET to be held on 24 July.

Criticising the decision on holding NEET for admission into MBBS and BDS courses as harboring the potential of affecting the tenets of federal structure of the country, Gogoi remarked that if this trend continues, all other sectors where states have greater say will continue to be affected.

“When judges of the High Courts are selected statewise, why has a bar been clamped on selecting students for MBBS and BDS courses statewise?” Gogoi questioned.

Meanwhile, in view of the unfolding developments, the State government has decided to open a Counselling Cell to guide aspiring students. The contact details of the Cell to be operatiol from the office of the Director of Medical Education will be notified soon.