Following apex court fiat, merit list to be released today, counselling tomorrow

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Tamil Nadu government to complete counselling process for medical admissions in the State on the basis of the NEET merit list by September 4.

A Bench led by Justice Dipak Misra, in a short hearing, was informed by the Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehtra that though the Union Law Ministry had cleared Tamil Nadu’s ordinance freezing the implementation of NEET in the State this year, the Centre has finally rejected the ordinance on the ground that it would give one particular State undue advantage over the others.

In response, senior advocate Nalini Chidambaram, appearing for students who had moved the Supreme Court against the ordinance, urged the court to order Tamil Nadu to release the NEET merit list forthwith. The State government, represented by senior advocate Shekhar Naphade protested, saying the State should be given more time in the aftermath of the rejection of its ordinance. However, the court turned down the State’s protests and ordered in favour of releasing the rank list forthwith even as it extended the time for counselling till September 4.

The Bench, also comprising Amitava Roy and A.M. Khanwilkar, had underlined that the Supreme Court would not allow NEET to be “demolished” at any cost.

Following the Supreme Court verdict, the Directorate of Medical Education has decided to release the merit list for the current academic year on Wednesday; the counselling process will begin on Thursday.

On Thursday, counselling will be held for the special category candidates, including persons with disabilities and wards of freedom fighters and ex-servicemen.

‘We took all steps’

On the inability to get exemption from NEET, State Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan said, “Exemption was the State’s policy. We took all possible steps to safeguard it.”

(With inputs for R. Sujatha in Chennai)