The Union health ministry which has decided to seek review of the Supreme Court judgment on the National Eligibility-cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical courses is based on the contention of the third judge who has given the dissent note.
According to sources in the health ministry, they have written to the law ministry for its opinion on the matter too. “The part of the judgment given by a single judge gives enough grounds to file a review petition, however, the final grounds will be opined by the law ministry which will take opinion from the solicitor-general to strengthen the case,” top sources said.
A review can be sought within 90 days of the verdict. The Supreme Court had on July 18 quashed the Medical Council of ‘s (MCI) notification calling that the MCI did not have mandate to conduct NEET for medicine, dentistry and postgraduate medical courses.
The health ministry has written to the law ministry recommending for seeking a review of the SC order along with its comments which are based on the stand taken by Justice Anil R. Dave in his dissent note that favoured the common test
Mr Azad had earlier said that legal recourse to the SC order is the only option available as the apex court order will create difficulties for students aspiring for medical degrees.
Calling NEET conducted by MCI as perfectly legal, Justice Dave, in the judgment, has said, “If the NEET is conducted under the supervision of the apex professional body, it would inspire confidence in the system and in that event, the selection of the students for admission to the medical profession would be on merit based selection.