Hyderabad: The TS and AP governments have decided to go ahead with the medical Eamcet as scheduled despite the SC ruling to conduct Neet from this year.
Both states have decided to file review petitions. AP will hold Eamcet as scheduled on Friday. AP health minister Kamineni Srinivas said, “Eamcet will be held as scheduled on Friday. We cannot cancel the exam at the last minute. We will file a review petition in the SC. Whatever final judgement the court delivers on this, the government will follow.”
TS health minister C. Laxma Reddy said, “We will approach the top court again on Neet. The time is too short to take a call on cancelling Eamcet at this stage. We request students not to get confused over the SC ruling and to appear for Eamcet as usual. Let us all wait for the final judgment on the review petitions and take decisions accordingly.”
Both states cited the Presidential Order under Article 371(D) of the Constitution for not jointing Neet, which reserves seats for locals.
Telangana puts riders to join Neet
As per existing norms, students have the choice to opt for NEET provided they submit an undertaking to the government that they are not eligible for seats in AP and TS and are willing to forego seats in the two states. Both states have claimed that they can join NEET only if an amendment is made to Article 371 (D).
If there is no change in SC’s decision, AP and TS students will have less than three months to prepare for NEET, on July 24.
There is a huge variation in syllabus between Intermediate board and NEET. “When we compare the NEET syllabus with Inter, there is a deficiency of 14 per cent in Physics syllabus, 35 per cent in Botany, 36 per cent in Zoology and 18 per cent in Chemistry. To cover this syllabus, we need 250 hours of additional classes which is not possible by July and no time would be left for students for revision,” said Dr P. Madhusudhan Reddy, senior government lecturer.
“Leave alone students, Inter lecturers need to be first trained on the NEET syllabus, which is based on the NCERT syllabus,” Dr Reddy added.
Students too are worried over the SC ruling. “NEET is a welcome move but the sudden decision to implement it at the last moment is a jolt for students. It is disturbing and confusing. We should be given sufficient time to face NEET. It should be postponed at least till next year,” said D. Niharika, a Class XII student of Narayana Group.
Another student, P. Sai Tejaswi of Sri Chaitanya said, “If NEET is held in two phases, then all those appearing on May 1 will be at an disadvantage due to lack of time, while those writing the exam in July will benefit. This will be a huge injustice to students. It should be held on a single day for all.”
