State's share from Central pool still unclear ; MBBS/BDS course likely to go off course
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 30 2013: Even as around 2500 candidates of Manipur have qualified in the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) conducted by the CBSE, it is unlikely that necessary counselling for allocation of seats can be done until the Supreme Court issues a final verdict regarding selection of State nominees for studying medical courses.

The number of State nominees who would be selected by the State Government for studying medical courses in the two medical institutes in Manipur and other medical colleges located outside the State against the State's share of central pool is around 160 .

As against the 160 candidates, the number of seats expected at RIMS is 30 for MBBS and 13 for BDS.

The number of MBBS seats expected at JNIMS is 85 in addition to three BDS seats expected at Regional Dental College, Guwahati.

However, the number of seats which would be available to students of the State from the Central pool now is not clear so far.

Notably, the Supreme Court has not yet issued any final judgement on whether the results of NEET conducted by CBSE should be compulsorily applied to all the States.

The apex Court is expected to come out with a final verdict in the first half of July.

On May 13 this year, the Supreme Court issued an order over-ruling its own directive dated December 13, 2012 and allowed declaration of PMT results already conducted (before May 13, 2013) .

In the meantime, this year's MBBS/BDS entrance test for which arrangements were already made was cancelled following a decision of the State Cabinet.

Even if NEET result is taken as the qualifying criteria for selection of candidates, the Supreme Court has not given its final judgement on the matter.

As such, due counselling for allocation of seats has not been conducted till date.

Moreover, the State Government has not been informed so far about the exact number of the State's share of seats that would be available from the Central pool.

This is ano ther impediment to the counselling.

Yet, the Medical Directorate has already issued around 900 forms for counselling as against the expected seat of 160.Apart from students of the State, many students belonging to other States opted for RIMS and JNIMS for studying medical courses at the time of submitting their NEET forms.

The State Government has been already provided with a rank list for the 2500 State students who have been declared NEET qualified.

Again, even if the State wishes to select candidates based on the rank list provided by CBSE, the Government is facing certain difficulties to conduct necessary counselling pending a final verdict from the Supreme Court.

Many are apprehensive that the situation may spark off a major issue in case the apex Court comes with a ruling that validates results of both NEET and PMTs conducted by respective States.

Meanwhile, AMSU has urged the Government to resolve the existing issue concerning selection of State nominees for studying medical courses.

Reminding that the State PMT for this academic year was cancelled by a Cabinet decision citing a Supreme Court order just two days before the scheduled date, AMSU remarked that the way the State Government is handling the issue is akin to nipping the aspiration of a large number of young students.

Without awaiting orders from the Central Government, the State Government need to take a definite decision on the matter, said a press release issued by AMSU.

Asking whether the State Government would conduct PMT anew in case the Supreme Court comes out with a ruling which validates both NEET result and results of PMT conducted by respective States, AMSU urged the Government to take a definite decision taking into view possibility of such a ruling.

On the other hand, the Manipur MBBS/BDS 2013 Entrance Examination Parents/Guardians Association has decried as irresponsible the Health Minister's statement that the MBBS/BDS 2013 entrance exam was cancelled because of an interim order issued by the Supreme Court.

In their conspiracy to select candidates of their choice, some influential people have been openly forfeiting the rights of students, said a press release issued by the guardians' association.

Ministers as well as MLAs ought to stand firm against the Government's wrong decision.

To make the public suffer just to satisfy a few influential persons cannot be justified, it asserted.

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