AIADMK opposes the NEET bill, terms it 'arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional'

New Delhi: The AIADMK on Monday opposed in Rajya Sabha the government move to put in place a single examination for medical and dental courses through NEET while most other parties supported the step, with demands that private colleges should be monitored properly. AIADMK leader Navneet Krishna, while speaking on The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and The Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2016, termed it as “arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional” step and said it will impact rural and poor children who do not follow CBSE syllabus. [caption id=“attachment_2927944” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] The bill, which has already been passed by the Lok Sabha, provides for a Constitutional status to NEET which is intended to be introduced next year. (File image) PTI[/caption] The bill, which has already been passed by the Lok Sabha, provides for a Constitutional status to the ‘National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) which is intended to be introduced in the academic session next year. The Bill seeks to amend the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 and the Dentists Act, 1948 and replace the Ordinances that were promulgated by the government to circumvent the Supreme Court order for implementation of NEET examination this session itself. “The rural and poor students of Tamil Nadu will be affected very badly by NEET. There is no need for this bill when the entire issue is under judicial review,” Krishna said. Narendra Budania of Congress, while reminding the House that the common entrance test was an idea of the previous UPA government, congratulated Health Minister JP Nadda for pursuing it. However, he urged him to ensure that private colleges are monitored so that the “pure profession becomes purer”. T Subbarami Reddy of Congress, who moved a resolution of disapproval against both Bills, wondered why the government was in a hurry to come out with an ordinance in May when they could have waited for a month and the half for the Monsoon session of Parliament to start. Naresh Aggarwal of Samajwadi Party supported the bills and asked the Minister to be “bold” and take full control of the Medical Council of India rather than divide it into four parts. He said if there was so much concern about the quality of some private medical colleges, then an exit test must be made compulsory. Doctors passing out from medical colleges should be made to serve in rural India for five years, he said.