The NEET matter will be heard by the Supreme Court again on Friday (Representational Image).
Highlights
- Court asks if students who took exam on May 1 can retake it on July 24
- Many states want the singular, centralised test to be deferred this year
- They say many students are at a disadvantage as test is only in English
The Supreme Court today asked the Centre whether states should be allowed to hold their own exams for admission to medical and dental courses this year. Many states had argued before the top court asking for the singular, centralised test, NEET, to be deferred this year.
The court asked the Solicitor General to seek the Centre's view on whether states can hold their own exams this year. But, it ruled out private colleges being not be allowed to hold their own exams. The matter will be heard again tomorrow.
The Supreme Court has also asked the Centre if those students who appeared for the exam on May 1 can again take the exam again, on July 24.
Several states including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh today asked for NEET to be deferred. The states claimed that the students in their states are not prepared and the exam should be held from next year.
These states said the exam should be conducted in the local language. Gujarat submitted a copy of the question paper in Gujarati to the court to point out the differences in terminology with English.
The first phase of the exam was held on Sunday for which nearly 6.5 lakh students appeared. The next one is scheduled for July 24.
Several states and private colleges had appealed against the common test. Some of them argued in court that the exam is only available in English and it puts students who are not proficient in the language at a disadvantage. The court has heard the arguments but so far refused to put off the exam. In its last hearing, on Tuesday, the court had said the May 1 examination was conducted smoothly.
Last week, the Supreme Court had refused to entertain a plea by some students seeking modification of its last week's order empowering the Central Board of Secondary Education or CBSE to conduct the exam.
The result for both phases will be declared on August 17 and admissions concluded by September 30.