Tamil Nadu Govt Orders Withdrawal of 65 Criminal Cases Against 1,800 Anti-NEET Protesters - Video

The Tamil Nadu government has ordered steps to withdraw 65 criminal cases registered against approximately 1,800 people who participated in protests demanding the abolition of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). According to reports, the demonstrations were held across the state between May 10 and July 31, 2026. An official statement said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was informed about the cases and their current status, following which the government directed authorities to initiate the necessary legal procedures for their withdrawal. The ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government has supported the demand to scrap NEET, which is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for medical admissions nationwide. The state government has also advocated shifting education from the Concurrent List to the State List of the Constitution. It has proposed admitting students to medical courses based on Class 12 examination marks instead of NEET scores, continuing a position supported by the previous government, HT reported.