Tamil Nadu Govt Calls For All-Party Meet On Feb 5 As Governor RN Ravi Returns NEET Bill

The Chief Minister also added that on the remembrance day of Aringnar Anna he has been reminded of his saying that 'The goatee is unnecessary for the goat and so is a Governor's post".

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi returned the NEET exemption bill to undergraduate medical courses to Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker on February 1, said a note from Raj Bhavan on Thursday. The Tamil Nadu government after receiving the reply of the Governor announced an all-party meet to decide on the next course of action with regards to National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET). 

A press note from Raj Bhavan said, "The Governor after a detailed study of the Bill and the report of High-Level Committee constitute by TN government on NEET in this regard which is the basis for the Bill and also examining the pre-NEET status of social justice in medical admission especially for students from socially and economically poor background is of the opinion that the Bill is against the interest of students especially from rural and economically poor students of the state." 

Hence, the note said, "The Governor has returned the Bill to Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker on February 1, 2022 giving detailed reasons for the reconsideration of the house."

The note also mentioned the judgment of the Supreme Court in Christian Medical College, Vellore Association Vs. Union of India (2020) and said the case comprehensively examined the issue especially from a social justice perspective and upheld NEET. 

After the press note, Tamil Nadu CM Stalin in a release said, "The Governor's observation that exemption from NEET will serve against social justice especially for the underprivileged and rural people is unacceptable by the people of Tamil Nadu."

"Hence, an all-party meet will be convened on February 5 to discuss on the next course of action and whether to once again pass the Bill in the Assembly will be taken," he said.

The Chief Minister also added that on the remembrance day of Aringnar Anna he has been reminded of the saying of Anna that 'The goatee is unnecessary for the goat so is a Governor's post".

A Bill seeking exemption for NEET was passed in the Assembly on September 13, 2021 and was sent to the Governor for receiving President's assent.