Supreme Court restores common entrance test for medical courses

The Supreme Court today agreed to hear a review petition challenging the striking down of the national eligibility entrance test (NEET), virtually paving the way for its implementation for admission into MBBS, BDS and MD courses. Setting aside its 2013 order scrapping the NEET after it was challenged by the Medical Council of India (MCI), the apex court admitted the review petition and said it will hear the case again on the validity of the common entrance test.

The NEET was introduced by the Medical Council of India in 2012, but private medical colleges challenged it and obtained a Supreme Court ruling that it was not a must for them.

Allowing the plea for the review of its July 18, 2013, order, the apex court constitution bench — comprising Justices Anil R Dave, AK Sikri, RK Agrawal, Adarsh Kumar Goel and R Banumathi — recalled the order that exempted the private medical college from admitting students in medical courses through NEET.

Recalling the order, the constitution bench directed fresh hearing of the matter. The order will affect over 600 private medical colleges in the country. The apex court bench, in a majority verdict on July 18, 2013, had held that the MCI has no powers to conduct NEET as it can only regulate medical education.