Cancellation of PMT Parents/guardians protest CET snub
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 13 2013: A protest rally was organised today under the banner of All Manipur MBBS/BDS Entrance Examination Parents/Guardians' Association to denounce state Cabinet's recent decision to cancel the Common entrance Test (CET) 2013 for MBBS/BDS.

The protest rally aimed at highlighting plight of the MBBS/BDS aspirants at the State Assembly complex, Chingmeirong, was stopped from proceeding farther beyond Wahengbam Leikai area where police personnel barricaded their path in late afternoon today.

Amid heated exchange of words with the police, the protestors raised slogans against the Cabinet decision along with demanding that their wards be allowed to appear the entrance examination.

According to Association general secretary K Arun, the Cabinet decision is irrational and unjustifiable for their was no ruling by the Supreme Court of India against conduct of MBBS/BDS entrance examination in any State.

Insisting that there is no verdict of the apex court against conducting the medical entrance test by the respective States as claimed by the Government of Manipur that the court made the ruling on the issue on May 15, the secretary demanded that copy of the court decree be provided to the parents/guardians as they would abide by the ruling, if any.

Informing that memorandum demanding conduct of the entrance test was submitted to the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary and Director (Health) on June 11, Arun opined that cancelling the test after providing admit card and exam centres to the candidates amounts to giving mental harassment to the young students.

Pointing out that medical entrance tests have already been conducted in many other States in May and June months, the memorandum also referred to the Medical Council of India's notification (Dec 27, 2010) on Notifying Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to post-graduate medical courses across the country.

While Christian Medical College, Vellore and others filed a case in the Supreme Court assailing the said MCI notification the court had not issued any interim order prohibiting conduct of the entrance examination in any State or Union Territory and thus announcement by the Government of Manipur is questionable, he expressed.

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