Jairam Ramesh emphasized the need for a Constitutional amendment to enable reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs to exceed 50%….reports Asian Lite News
The Congress party has urged Parliament to pass a law allowing reservations to exceed the 50% cap. This call came a day after Janata Dal (United), an NDA constituent, demanded that the increased quota in Bihar be included in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.
At a JD(U) national executive meeting on Saturday, the party expressed concern over a Patna High Court verdict that struck down the Bihar government’s decision to raise the quota for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) from 50% to 65%. The JD(U) passed a political resolution urging the BJP-led Union government to include the State’s law in the Ninth Schedule to prevent judicial review.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, in a post on X, noted that the Congress has consistently advocated for all State laws related to SC, ST, and OBC reservations to be included in the Ninth Schedule, similar to a Tamil Nadu law in 1994. He welcomed JD(U)’s demand but criticized their ally BJP for remaining silent on the issue.
Ramesh pointed out that including reservation laws beyond the 50% limit in the Ninth Schedule is insufficient, as a 2007 Supreme Court decision allows such laws to be subject to judicial review. He emphasized the need for a Constitutional amendment to enable reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs to exceed 50%.
He clarified that the 50% limit is not explicitly mandated by the Constitution but has been established through Supreme Court rulings. Ramesh highlighted that this demand is a key promise of the Indian National Congress for the Lok Sabha elections and challenged the Prime Minister to clarify his stance. He urged that a Constitutional Amendment Bill be introduced in the next Parliament session and called on JD(U) to move beyond merely passing resolutions.
The US government seized “over USD 231 million in cash, luxury vehicles, gold, and other assets” in a nationwide law enforcement action…reports Asian Lite News
Almost 200 people have been charged in a nationwide operation probing false health care claims involving approximately USD 2.75 billion in losses, The Hill reported on Thursday citing the Department of Justice.
Under its 2024 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action, the DOJ filed charges against 193 defendants, including 76 doctors, nurse practitioners and other licensed medical professionals in 32 different federal districts across the country.
The US government seized “over USD 231 million in cash, luxury vehicles, gold, and other assets” in a nationwide law enforcement action, as per The Hill.
“It does not matter if you are a trafficker in a drug cartel or a corporate executive or medical professional employed by a health care company if you profit from the unlawful distribution of controlled substances, you will be held accountable,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.
According to the DOJ, the five individuals and a digital technology company participated in a more than USD 900-million fraud scheme in Arizona in connection with amniotic wound grafts, the unlawful distribution of Adderall pills and other stimulants.
The DOJ also alleges corporate executives committed a USD 90 million fraud scheme by distributing adulterated and wrongfully branded HIV medication, more than USD 146 million in fake addiction treatment schemes, more than USD 1.1 billion in telemedicine and laboratory fraud, as well as USD 450 million in other health care fraud and opioid schemes, as reported by The Hill.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said his department’s agents were proud to play a part in the multi-agency investigation.
“Through this action, we in federal law enforcement send a clear and strong message — that we will hold accountable those health care providers and prescribers who prey on their patients for profit and disregard the first rule of medical care: do no harm,” Mayorkas said in a statement. (ANI)
A controversial law by the Conservative government allowing irregular migrants arriving in the UK to be deported to Rwanda was finally passed in Apri…reports Asian Lite News
Interior minister James Cleverly has defended a parliamentary aide who called the government plan to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda “crap,” in a leaked audio revealed by the BBC Sunday.
A controversial law by the Conservative government allowing irregular migrants arriving in the UK to be deported to Rwanda was finally passed in April, after months of parliamentary wrangling.
But in the recording James Sunderland, a parliamentary aide and Conservative party candidate, was heard saying: “the policy is crap, ok? It’s crap.”
“But it’s not about the policy. It’s about the effect of the policy,” he went on to say, speaking at a Youth Conservatives conference in April. “There is no doubt at all that when those first flights take off it will send such a shockwave across the Channel,” Sunderland clarified.
Home Secretary James Cleverly said he was “surprised,” when asked about the audio, before saying Sunderland was making a “counterintuitive statement to grab the attention.” Cleverly told Sky News on Sunday that his aide Sunderland “is completely supportive of the deterrent effect.”
Sunderland told the BBC he was “disappointed” to have been recorded at a private event, and said although the policy is “not the be all and end all,” it is “part of a wider response.”
No flights deporting asylum seekers have actually taken off yet for the African country, due to lengthy legal challenges and with parliament dissolved ahead of a looming general election on July 4.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said the policy would only come into effect after the election, if he was re-elected.
The opposition Labour party — which looks poised to replace the Conservatives — has promised to scrap the Rwanda plan.
The government cleared a law allowing some asylum seekers to be deported in April, circumventing a Supreme Court ruling that said sending migrants to Rwanda in this way would be illegal because it “would expose them to a real risk of ill-treatment.”
Supporters of the Rwanda policy say it will deter tens of thousands of annual cross-Channel arrivals by small boats, and insist the policy is already having an impact. More than 12,000 irregular migrants have crossed the Channel to Britain on small boats this year, according to government data.
The CBI has accordingly registered a criminal case and initiated an investigation….reports Asian Lite News
Amid the row over the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET)-Undergraduate and UGC-NET exams 2024, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday registered a criminal case for irregularities in the exam and formed special teams to probe the matter.
Early on Sunday, the central government entrusted the probe into the alleged irregularities in the NEET 2024 exam to the CBI.
As per the agency’s FIR, certain “isolated incidents” occurred in a few states during the conduct of the NEET (UG) 2024 examination which was held on May 5, 2024.
The CBI has accordingly registered a criminal case and initiated an investigation. Special teams have been formed by the CBI to investigate the matter on top priority. Special CBI teams are being sent to Patna and Godhra, where local police cases have been registered, the release said.
The NEET (UG) 2024 Examination was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 5, 2024, at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 cities abroad, with over 23 lakh candidates appearing for the examination.
The release stated that the case has been registered upon the request of the Ministry of Education to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the entire gamut of alleged irregularities, including conspiracy, cheating, impersonation, breach of trust, and destruction of evidence by candidates, institutes, and middlemen, including attempted irregularities.
The Ministry has also requested the CBI for an investigation into the role of public servants, if any, connected with the conduct of the examination and also into the entire gamut of events and the larger conspiracy, it added.
The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducted the NEET-UG exams, is facing criticism over alleged irregularities in the exams. This resulted in several protests across the country, with protestors and political parties demanding to disband the NTA. An unprecedented 67 candidates achieved a perfect score of 720 marks out of 720, which added to the concerns.
Opposition slams govt
Meanwhile, the opposition leaders have sharpened their attack on the central government over the alleged irregularities in the NEET exams.
Earlier today, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra lashed out at the Centre and claimed that under the BJP’s rule, the entire education system has been handed over to the “mafia” and the “corrupt”.
Taking to ‘X’, Vadra wrote, “NEET-UG:- paper leak, NEET-PG:- cancelled, UGC-NET:- cancelled, CSIR-NET:- Cancelled! Today this is the condition of some of the biggest examinations in the country. Under the BJP rule, the entire education system has been handed over to the mafia and the corrupt. The political stubbornness and arrogance of handing over the country’s education and the future of the children to greedy and sycophantic incompetent people have made paper leaks, cancellation of exams, disappearance of education from campuses and political hooliganism the identity of our education system.”
“The situation has become such that the BJP government cannot conduct even an examination fairly. Today, the BJP government has become the single biggest hurdle in front of the future of the youth. The capable youth of the country are wasting their precious time and energy in fighting the corruption of the BJP and the helpless Modi ji is just watching the spectacle”, she added.
Meanwhile, Congress workers in Jharkhand staged a protest over the alleged irregularities in the NEET exam.
Expressing their outrage, protesters burnt an effigy of the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
CPM demands Pradhan’s resignation
The CPI (M) on Sunday demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the allegation of irregularities and paper leaks in the NEET-UG 2024 examination. The party also called for the scrapping of the “centralised” NEET exams.
“The Politbureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) is deeply anguished over the sinister developments which have engulfed the centralised all-India examination processes. Be it NEET-UG, UGC-NET and now NEET-PG which has been postponed indefinitely in anticipation of what obviously was waiting to happen. The combined impact of this are irregularities and complete collapse of the processes which affect vital sectors of higher education in the country,” the party said in a statement.
The statement said that the irregularities are not merely the result of corruption but also emerged from “centralisation, commercialisation and communication in the education sphere which is an essential ingredient of the National Education Policy”.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi also demanded the resignation of the Union Education Minister, stating that there is an “education emergency” in the country.
“I would say there is an education emergency in this country, the rate at which exams are being cancelled, the rate at which the Education Minister is refusing to hold himself accountable. We are seeing how one paper after another is being postponed or cancelled. Dharmendra Pradhan had refused any inquiry regarding the NEET paper leak. Just transferring the NTA chairman will not work. As far as the Education Ministry is concerned, Dharmendra Pradhan will have to resign for being a complete failure”, Chaturvedi said.
DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai slammed the government and said that almost 50 lakh people have been affected, and there has not been even a single word from the Prime Minister.
“BJP government is incompetent. It is allowing organised gangs to leak papers. Four high-quality exams have been cancelled. Almost 50 lakh students have been affected by the sheer criminal negligence of the BJP party. There is not even a single word from the PM,” Annadurai said.
Meanwhile, a total of 813 out of 1563 candidates appeared for the NEET-UG retest on Sunday, according to the National Testing Agency.
On the orders of the Supreme Court, the retest is being conducted for the affected candidates who had experienced time loss during the originally scheduled examination on May 5.
The re-conduct of the exam was announced following allegations of irregularities in NEET-UG, including paper leaks.
Amid allegations of irregularities in the conduct of entrance examinations, the National Testing Agency (NTA) claimed on Sunday that its website and all its web portals are fully secure.
The NTA further dismissed the allegations of the portals being compromised, calling them “wrong and misleading.”
“NTA website and all its web portals are fully secure. Any information that has been compromised and hacked is wrong and misleading,” the NTA said in a post on ‘X’.
Amid the NEET irregularities allegations, the Centre postponed the NEET-PG exam a day ahead of its scheduled date and cancelled the UGC-NET exam conducted on June 18. (ANI)
This comes amidst a growing controversy over alleged irregularities in the conduct of exams…reports Asian Lite News
The Centre on Saturday removed National Testing Agency (NTA) Director General Subodh Kumar Singh from his post and put him on “compulsory wait” in the Department of Personnel and Training.
This comes amidst a growing controversy over alleged irregularities in the conduct of exams.
Pradeep Singh Kharola has been given additional charge of the post of Director General, National Testing Agency (NTA), Ministry of Education.
“Assignment of additional charge of the post of Director General, National Testing Agency, Ministry of Education to Pradeep Singh Kharola, IAS (KN:85) (Retd.), Chairman and Managing Director, India Trade Promotion Organization till appointment of a regular incumbent or until further orders, whichever is earlier,” the notice stated.
“Placing the services of Subodh Kumar Singh, IAS (CG:97), Director General, National Testing Agency, Ministry of Education on compulsory wait in the Department of Personnel and Training,” it added.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare postponed the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET PG) Examination on Saturday, which was scheduled to be held on Sunday and said that a fresh date will be announced at the earliest.
The NEET-PG exams were scheduled to be held on June 23.
“Taking into consideration, the recent incidents of allegations regarding the integrity of certain competitive examinations, the Ministry of Health has decided to undertake a thorough assessment of the robustness of the processes of the NEET-PG Entrance Examination, conducted by the National Board of Examination for medical students,” the ministry statement read.
“It has accordingly been decided, as a precautionary measure, to postpone the NEET-PG Entrance Examination, scheduled to be held on 23rd June 2024. The fresh date of this examination will be notified at the earliest,” the ministry added.
“The Ministry of Health sincerely regrets the inconvenience caused to the students. This decision has been taken in the best interests of the students and to maintain the sanctity of the examination process,” the health ministry said.
The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducted the NEET-UG exams, is facing criticism over alleged irregularities in the exams. This resulted in several protests across the country, with protestors and political parties demanding to disband the NTA.
An unprecedented 67 candidates achieved a perfect score of 720 marks out of 720, which added to the concerns.
The Ministry of Education said it has constituted a high-level committee of experts to make recommendations on reforms in the mechanism of the examination process, improvements in data security protocols and the functioning of the NTA.
The 7-member committee, led by ISRO former chairman Dr K. Radhakrishnan, will submit its report to the ministry in the next two months.
‘Total incompetence’
Meanwhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and claimed that exam cancellations are happening in the country every day because of the “total incompetence” of PM Modi and the “people around him”.
“No day is complete without news of the cancellation of an exam because of the total incompetence of the non-biological PM and the people around him. The latest exam to be put off is NEET-PG, which was scheduled to be held on Sunday,” Jairam Ramesh posted on X.
‘Govt lost its trust among youth’
Congress leader Pawan Khera on Saturday attacked the central government over the postponement of the NEET-PG examination and said that the government has completely “lost its trust” among the youth.
“The NEET PG exam which was supposed to be held tomorrow has been postponed tonight…This government is not able to conduct exams. This government has completely lost its trust among the youth. The Education Minister who was giving a clean chit to NTA 4 days ago, is now removing the Director General of NTA. Who is responsible for the exams? Who is being saved? When will this investigation happen? When will this government be able to get the exam done properly? People are not getting answers to these questions,” Khera said in a self-made video.
‘Pradhan should resign with immediate effect’
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey demanded resignation from Union Health Minister Dharmendra Pradhan with immediate effect for the postponement of the NEET-PG examination and said that the government will have to change the entire system and remove the incapable officials.
“The NEET PG exam which was to be held on Sunday has been postponed…Nothing will happen by changing only the officers of NTA. The government will have to change the entire system. First of all, Dharmendra Pradhan should resign with immediate effect and this responsibility should be given to a new minister. Otherwise, crores of students will suffer. The anger of those who are coming out on the streets at this time will increase further,” Dubey said.
“As the opposition, we can only demand from you that you bring in new people with immediate effect, bring in capable people and remove those who are inactive and indifferent from their posts,” he added.
Tejashwi demands justice for students
Meanwhile, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday demanded justice to be served to the candidates amid the outrage over the alleged NEET paper leak.
“The minister is saying that there has been no leak of the papers… We want justice to be served to the people (students)… Incidents of murders, bridge collapses and railway accidents are happening under the double-engine government,” Yadav told reporters on Saturday.
Earlier in the day, the RJD leader told reporters, “Wherever there is a BJP government, paper leaks are happening there…It is my appeal to investigation agencies to probe Sanjeev Mukhiya. I urge the government to probe this. Sanjeev Mukhiya is said to be the head of Nitish Kumar and Amit Anand, who have been nabbed (in NEET issue). This should be investigated.”
Photo taken on Aug. 21, 2020 shows a logo of the video-sharing social networking company TikTok's Los Angeles Office in Culver City, Los Angeles County, the United States. TikTok confirmed Saturday that it will file a lawsuit against the Trump administration over an executive order banning any U.S. transactions with its parent company ByteDance. (Xinhua/IANS)
ByteDance, TikTok’s Beijing-based parent company, is also a plaintiff in what could become one of the biggest legal battles in tech history…reports Asian Lite News
The popular video-sharing app TikTok disclosed a letter on Thursday accusing the Biden administration of “political demagoguery” during crucial negotiations aimed at addressing concerns about its presence in the U.S., media reported.
The letter, sent to David Newman, a senior official in the Justice Department’s national security division, was revealed in federal court alongside a legal brief supporting TikTok’s lawsuit against a potential ban, Associated Press reported.
ByteDance, TikTok’s Beijing-based parent company, is also a plaintiff in what could become one of the biggest legal battles in tech history, it was reported.
The documents detail negotiations between TikTok and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) from January 2021 to August 2022.
These talks led to a 90-page draft security agreement that would have imposed stringent safeguards on U.S. user data and included a “kill switch” to suspend the platform if it breached the agreement, AP reported.
However, TikTok’s attorneys claimed that substantive negotiations halted after the draft submission.
CFIUS did not comment, but the Justice Department is prepared to defend the legislation, citing national security concerns consistent with constitutional protections, it was reported.
The department emphasized the threat posed by autocratic nations that could exploit technology for espionage, particularly when companies are compelled to share data with their governments secretly.
Child privacy laws
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has referred a complaint against TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance to the Department of Justice, alleging that they failed to protect the privacy of children.
The FTC said in a statement that it “uncovered reason to believe” TikTok and ByteDance are “violating or are about to violate” the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.
The regulator did not provide any further details of the alleged violations in its statement.
The FTC said that it does not typically make referrals of complaints public, but “determined that doing so here is in public interest.”
The FTC is responsible for consumer protection in the US and also plays an important role in its competition policy.
TikTok rejected the allegations in a statement on X, noting it had been in talks with the FTC for more than a year.
“We’re disappointed the agency is pursuing litigation instead of continuing to work with us on a reasonable solution,” it said.
TikTok also said that many of the FTC’s allegations related to past events and practices and were factually inaccurate or have been addressed.
In 2019, TikTok agreed to pay $5.7 million to settle FTC allegations against its predecessor company, Musical.ly, concerning the collection of data from children under the age of 13 without parental consent, in violation of US law.
According to the FTC, the current investigation into TikTok and its Chinese-based parent company ByteDance began with an audit to determine whether the platform was complying with the terms of the previous agreement.
The department has finalised the draft guidelines after in depth consultations with telecom regulator TRAI…reports Asian Lite News
The Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, has sought public comments on Draft Guidelines for the Prevention and Regulation of Unsolicited and Unwarranted Business Communication.
The Draft Guidelines are placed on the website of the Department of Consumer Affairs for public comments, suggestions and feedback. The inputs may be provided to the Department latest by 21st July 2024.
The draft guidelines have been drafted after detailed deliberations with various stakeholders including telecom operators, telecom regulators and telecom organizations.
The department has finalised the draft guidelines after in depth consultations with telecom regulator TRAI.
It was pointed out that despite TRAI regulations in place, such misleading and deceptive calls and messages have become a sore point for mobile users.
Do Not Disturb (DND) registry has been effective for registered telemarketers but the unwarranted calls and messages from unregistered telemarketers and those using 10-digit private numbers remain unabated.
In order to address the above issue, a committee comprising representatives from the Department of Telecommunication (DoT), Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Vodafone Idea, Reliance and Airtel under the Chairmanship of Joint Secretary Department of Consumer Affairs was constituted in February 2024.
The Committee after extensive deliberations suggested a draft framework which is now open for public consultations. The draft guidelines define “Business Communication” as any communication relating to goods or services including promotional and service communication but excludes personal communication.
The guidelines are applicable on all persons and establishments who make or cause to make the business communication and in whose name such communication was made.
The draft guidelines classify any business communication as Unsolicited and Unwarranted Business Communication if such communication is neither as per the consent nor as per the registered preference(s) of the recipient. Any communications made under the following categories will be termed unsolicited.
Any calls or messages through a number series other than the one that has been prescribed by the Authority i.e. TRAI/DoT; or through an SMS header not registered with Telecom Service providers
Initiating such communication despite a request or instruction from the consumer to opt out of any such communication by registering in the DND Registry is managed by the Telecom Service Providers
Initiating such communication without obtaining explicit and specific consent in digital form from the consumer to receive such communication for the particular brand/beneficiary and their respective product;
Making such communication without clearly identifying the calling entity and the purpose of the call
Initiation of such communication through an unauthorized employee or agent
Initiating such communication without giving a clear, simple, free, and effective option to opt-out as well as a confirmation of opt-out if consumer chooses to avail opting out.
The proposed guidelines will protect consumers from invasive and unauthorized marketing or promotion of goods and services communications. (ANI)
The regulations of OTT have been a matter of debate in the country, as consumer bodies have been lobbying to regulate OTT platforms….reports Asian Lite News
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has kept OTT out of regulation in its recommendations for the National Broadcasting Policy-2024 (NBP). TRAI’s recommendations has put aside the possibility of future limitations on Google, Facebook, and WhatsApp.
OTT platforms are streaming and audio-visual platforms that began as content hosts but quickly expanded to include the creation and distribution of web series, feature films, documentaries, and short films.
The regulations of OTT have been a matter of debate in the country, as consumer bodies have been lobbying to regulate OTT platforms.
“There is no requirement for establishing a converged legal, administrative, regulatory, and licensing framework. Rather, the focus should be on promoting ease of doing business (EoDB) in the sector by streamlining the process of seeking permissions. One of the ways to promote EoDB is by granting infrastructure status,” the regulator added to the comments made by stakeholders opposing the regulations.
However, the authority has added several policy recommendations to flourish the OTT industry in the country.
It said the OTT being a sunrise sector, needs a forward-looking policy approach. “OTT is a pull-based medium, therefore, transposing legal broadcasting regulations onto OTT would affect
EoDB and hinder growth,” the regulator added.
The TRAI said it has recommended a vision to foster a competitive, affordable and ubiquitous ecosystem for sustained growth of the broadcasting sector, catering to the diverse needs of consumers, that facilitates quality content creation.
TRAI’s recommendations are aimed at establishing a robust broadcasting ecosystem for India by enabling growth oriented policies and regulations through data driven governance along with an ecosystem for indigenous manufacturing
The NBP-24 intends to target broad roadmap for 10 years with special focus on the next 5 years, TRAI added.
It also intends to promote quality content for television and OTT broadcasting services by encouraging the proliferation of Indian content, both locally and globally. The policy recommends promoting Indian content production through films, animation, visual effects, gaming and music.
The regulator has also asked for developing OTT platforms by Prasar Bharati for the promotion of the content of Doordarshan and AIR channels. DD should utilise its archives of good content and relaunch it for new and young audiences through OTT.
TRAI has also provided provisions for protecting interest of stakeholders through copyright protection policies. (ANI)
Earlier, the apex court had denied a stay on the declaration of the result of the NEET UG examination but had issued a notice to NTA and others in a similar matter….reports Asian Lite News
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to pass any interim direction to stay the admission counselling process to medical programmes pursuant to the NEET UG 2024 examination.
However, a vacation bench presided over by Justice Vikram Nath sought a response from the National Testing Agency (NTA) and others on a plea seeking cancellation of the NEET UG examination held on May 05 this year.
“It is not so simple that because you have done it is sacrosanct. Sanctity has been affected, so we need answers. How much time do you want (for replying to the petition)? Immediately on the re-opening? Otherwise, the counselling will start. If you need more time, we will stop the counselling,” remarked the Bench, also comprising Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah.
In response, the counsel representing NTA submitted that a similar petition is coming up for hearing on July 8 before a bench headed by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud.
At this, the apex court said, “We will have this matter on 8th July. We will tag it with the pending petition. In the meantime, you (NTA) file your reply.”
Earlier, the apex court had denied a stay on the declaration of the result of the NEET UG examination but had issued a notice to NTA and others in a similar matter.
The plea filed by young aspiring students seeks directions for the conduct of an expeditious and thorough investigation of the “malpractices and fraud involved” in the NEET examination held on May 5 and a stay on declaration of results till the investigations on paper leak are completed.
Further, it sought directions to NTA to recall the results of the examination conducted on May 5 and conduct the examination afresh after issuing due public notice.
The committee’s report, derived from comprehensive data analysis and feedback from students, parents, and the public, was shared with various state governments…reports Asian Lite News
Retired Madras High Court judge Justice A K Rajan has urged the Tamil Nadu government to abolish the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) through legal or legislative means and to use higher secondary examination marks as the sole criterion for medical school admissions.
Justice Rajan, who led a high-level committee formed after the DMK came to power in 2021, recommended this to ensure equal opportunities for students from different educational boards through score normalization.
The committee’s report, derived from comprehensive data analysis and feedback from students, parents, and the public, was shared with various state governments to highlight NEET’s detrimental impact on the poor and social justice.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M K Stalin, a vocal opponent of NEET, shared the report on social media to emphasize these points.
The committee recommended immediate action to eliminate NEET, asserting that the state government could leverage specific legal provisions to argue against NEET’s imposition.
They suggested using Act 3 of 2007, which governs admissions to affiliated colleges under the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, or passing a new act requiring Presidential assent to abolish NEET.
The report emphasized the importance of using higher secondary scores for medical admissions and normalizing these scores across different educational boards to ensure fair opportunities.
It also proposed identifying and mitigating socio-economic and demographic factors that adversely affect disadvantaged students’ performance, possibly through a pre-developed “Adversity Score” framework.
The committee called for educational reforms to foster genuine learning over rote memorization, from curriculum development to teaching methods and assessments.
It also recommended that Tamil Nadu pass legislation to bring deemed universities under state control and obtain Presidential assent.
Following the committee’s recommendations, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a bill seeking exemption from NEET, which is awaiting Presidential approval.
Stalin, highlighting growing national opposition to NEET, shared the committee’s report in multiple languages to raise awareness about NEET’s negative effects.
