Demand for NEET Twice a Year! Delhi HC junks plea
Delhi High Court
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court today refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed seeking to conduct the National Eligibility-Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) examination twice a year in multiple shifts like the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).
Observing that such a decision lies exclusively within the administrative domain of the concerned authorities, a Division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela dismissed the plea.
"NEET UG examination is held by the NTA for selecting students who opt for studying medicine in various medical colleges. The JEE is held for selecting students in engineering courses," the High Court bench noted.
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"As to whether any particular entrance exam for admitting students to any particular course is to be held twice in a year lies exclusively in the administrative domain of the authorities concerned. Accordingly, it is for the authorities to consider such a prayer of request," the Court was further quoted noting by Live Law.
Therefore, the bench directed the petitioner to move a representation in this regard before the competent authority of the Union Government. The bench further asked the said authority to treat the representation as the petitioner's suggestions and taken an appropriate decision on the matter.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that back in 2023, the demands for holding the NEET-UG exam twice a year were also not supported by the National Medical Commission (NMC). Writing to the All India Students Union (AISU), the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of NMC had informed that conducting the NEET UG examination twice a year was not feasible.
The Commission had pointed out that conducting the NEET examination required a huge amount of money and it may put an undue burden on the government exchequer.
"Further, it is to inform that all the MBBS seats got filled during this one counselling and no seat remain vacant for which need of conducting the said exam twice doesn't arise. Also, NEET examination involves huge amount of money and other resources and thereby holding the said exam may put undue burden on government exchequer," the Apex medical commission pointed out in the letter.
"In view of the above, it is not feasible for the Commission to hold this exam twice a year. However, NEET aspirants are now free to appear next year in exam as upper age bar has already been removed," the letter by UGMEB Director Shambhu Sharan Kumar further stated.
