Cabinet to decide on State PMT today
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 19 2013 : The State Cabinet will take a decision whether to hold the State Pre-Medical Test (PMT) or not for selection of government nominees for admission to MBBS/BDS courses tomorrow.

It may be noted that the State PMT was earlier scheduled to be held on June 9 last, but it got cancelled all of a sudden by a decision of State Cabinet, which favoured selection of MBBS/BDS candidates from the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)-2013 conducted by CBSE under the directive of Medical Council of India (MCI).

However, a bench of three judges of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir quashed the notification of MCI for holding one common entrance test for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate medical and dental courses in all institutions across the country.

Talking to Hueiyen Lanpao, Health Minister Phungzathang said, "We have heard about Supreme Court's ruling on National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, but it is still unclear whether to conduct the MBBS/BDS Entrance Test or not.

The State Cabinet will decide on this matter at a meeting at 3 pm tomorrow" .

He further said that the matter has been listed as a Cabinet memo and it would be discussed at length during the Cabinet Meeting.

Health Department would also consult legal experts and other officials to sort out things according to the ruling of the Supreme Court, Health Minister noted.

According to reports culled from the Medical Directorate, the State PMT is most likely to be held.

Preparations for the test have also been reportedly taken up by the officials in advance.

The Directorate is just waiting for the Cabinet's decision.

It may be recalled that a sum of Rs.47,97,200 was collected by the Directorate of Health Services from the candidates who applied for the State Pre-Medical Test (PMT).

The cost of application form for the PMT was Rs.200 while the examination fee for the test was Rs.600 to be enclosed in the form of a demand draft.

Altogether 6718 candidates have taken the application forms, out of which 5756 candidates submitted the application forms with the requisite test fee in the form of demand draft.

Some parents have complained that the Directorate of Health Services must be held responsible for the losses incurred in the course of preparation for PMT.

The Director has not made clear about the refund of money collected from the students, they said.

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