Ensure no more protests over NEET exam: Supreme Court to Tamil Nadu

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Tamil Nadu government to crack down on all forms and manners of protests against the court-mandated common all-India entrance test NEET, which is expected to replace admissions on the basis of marks.

Tamil Nadu used to have a system of admitting students to professional courses based on higher secondary marks till a five-judge bench of the court ruled in favour of NEET.

Protests in the state have caught on in recent days after a local student committed suicide over the issue.

A three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, on Friday placed the onus of maintaining law and order in the state on the government there.

“… it shall be the obligation of the chief secretary and principal home secretary, State of Tamil Nadu to ensure that no law and order problem takes place in relation of NEET examination as it has been upheld by a Constitution Bench,” the bench said. The chief secretary should ensure that anyone involved in any kind of activity that affects normal life should be booked under appropriate laws, the bench said. The interim order came on a PIL filed by advocate GS Mani.

The bench also issued notices to the chief secretary and the principal home secretary and called upon the state advocate general to assist the court in resolving the situation at the next date of hearing fixed for September 18.

The situation in the state was precarious, Mani earlier contended, seeking urgent court intervention to defuse the situation there.