SC’s yes for single CET for MBBS

The Supreme Court has cleared Medical Council of India’s move to hold a single Common Entrance Test (CET) for MBBS and post-graduation seats in all government and private medical colleges from 2011-12 academic session.

The apex court bench, comprising Justices R V Raveendran and A K Patnaik on Monday cleared it while replying MCI’s advocate Amarendra Saran’s plea that the regulator was not issuing the notification for single CET because of pendency of petitions in the SC.

The bench said “pendency of petitions will not stand in the way of MCI notifying the new regulations (proposing single CET) and others from challenging the notification (subsequently)”.

This clarification meant now the MCI can notify its regulations for single CET for MBBS and PG courses in all medical colleges from 2011.

The new order would be effective in all 271 medical colleges, 138 run by governments and 133 under private management.

These colleges offer over 31,000 seats for MBBS courses and another 11,000 seats for PG degrees.

Saran had sought for single CET for medical examination with argument that it would protect students from harassment of having to appear in 10 to 15 entrance tests every year.

The MCI said the state quota would remain intact as `National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test’ (NEET) would draw up a national merit list as well as state-wise ranking list for general category, SC, ST and OBC as well as physically challenged persons.

The MCI proposal had said, “In order to be eligible for admissions to MBBS courses for a particular academic year, it shall be necessary for a candidate to obtain minimum 50 per cent marks in each paper of NEET held for the said academic year.

However, in respect of candidates belonging to SC, ST and OBC, the minimum percentage of marks shall be 40 per cent in each paper and for candidates with locomotory disability of lower limbs, it would be 45 per cent in each paper.”