TN opposes move to conduct CET for UG and PG Medical courses

Updated on: Wednesday, August 03, 2011

Tamil Nadu government protested Centre's move to conduct an all India medical entrance exam for UG and PG courses and said the state should be exempted as it followed a 'unique' reservation policy.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said the state had initiated steps to abolish Common Entrance Test (CET) for professional courses since 2005 and implemented it from 2007-08.

It was done based on the recommendations of an Expert Committee which found that rural students and those from lower socio-economic background were unable to compete with their "urban elite" counterparts, in terms of access to quality training institutions and material, she said.

A large number of meritorious rural students benefited from abolition of CET, Jayalalithaa said. Also the 69 per cent reservation which is unique to Tamil Nadu would be affected in the event of a CET as it would "create confusion" and (lead to) litigation in smooth implementation of this reservation policy in both UG and PG admissions, she said.

Besides, the state government has reserved 50 per cent of its medical PG seats for doctors who have completed three years of rural service with special weightage for those working in hilly and tribal areas, she said.

Bonds had also been obtained from those completing PG courses in Government Medical Colleges to serve the State for a minimum period, which has helped meet the need for specialist medical manpower, she said.

It would be legally difficult to implement these policy initiatives if a CET is introduced, as states would have to fall in line with its provisions, she added.

Protesting the move to conduct the CET, Jayalalithaa said it had been conveyed to the Health Ministry that such a test would "interfere with state's rights," in administering the education system and create problems in implementing the reservation policy followed "uniquely," in the state.

TN opposes move to conduct CET for UG and PG Medical courses

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