Stalin emphasised Tamil Nadu’s focus on social justice in medical admissions, citing a 2006 system based on school performance. NEET, he argued, disadvantages rural and low-income students, risking a doctor shortage
Published Apr 04, 2025 | 7:21 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 04, 2025 | 7:21 PM
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin.
Synopsis: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin condemned the Union government’s rejection of the state’s NEET exemption bill, calling it a blow to federalism. He announced an all-party meeting on 9 April to discuss next steps. Stalin criticised the decision as an attack on democratic rights and social justice, highlighting NEET’s negative impact on rural and disadvantaged students and the state’s healthcare system.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday, 4 April, condemned the Union government’s rejection of the state’s NEET exemption bill, calling it a “black chapter in India’s federal history.” He announced that an all-party meeting will be held on 9 April to determine the next legal and political steps to push for the abolition of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).
Speaking in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, Stalin criticised the decision as an attack on the state’s democratic rights and the aspirations of its students. He emphasised that the bill, passed unanimously by the Assembly twice, was based on recommendations from a committee led by retired Justice AK Rajan and included detailed clarifications requested by Union ministries.
“Despite fulfilling every requirement and responding to all queries, the Union government has arbitrarily rejected Tamil Nadu’s long-standing demand. This is a grave injustice and a direct assault on cooperative federalism,” Stalin said.
Stalin highlighted Tamil Nadu’s history of prioritising social justice in medical admissions. He pointed to the state’s earlier system, introduced in 2006 under then-Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, which based medical admissions on school performance rather than an entrance test. This policy, he said, ensured equitable access for students from rural and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
However, since the introduction of NEET, many students from rural areas and lower-income families have been unable to compete with urban students who can afford expensive coaching classes, Stalin said. He warned that this would lead to a shortage of doctors in underserved areas, affecting healthcare delivery in the state.
Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed NEET, arguing that it disproportionately benefits urban and affluent students while disadvantaging those from rural and marginalised backgrounds. Successive state governments have advocated for a return to the pre-NEET system, where medical admissions were based on school board marks.
The chief minister said legal experts would be consulted on the next course of action, and he urged all political parties in Tamil Nadu to unite in opposition to NEET. The 9 April all-party meeting, to be held at the Secretariat, will focus on legal and political strategies to challenge the rejection.
“The Tamil Nadu government will take all necessary legal steps to fulfill the dreams of thousands of aspiring medical students,” Stalin said, concluding his speech to loud applause from the Assembly.
The Tamil Nadu government had formed the AK Rajan committee in response to widespread concerns over NEET’s impact on social equity. The committee’s findings led to the passage of the Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Medical Degree Courses Bill, 2021, which sought exemption from NEET.
Despite legal battles and legislative efforts, the bill was returned by Governor RN Ravi for reconsideration. It was passed again on 8 February, 2022, and forwarded to the President for assent, which was ultimately denied.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
