Health Ministry - How can you go back on your word SC

Reconsider objections to combined test for medical, engineering admissions

The Supreme Court has asked the Health Ministry to reconsider its stand against holding a nationwide, combined entrance test for medical and engineering admissions for the all-India quota proposed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).


At the last hearing when counsel for the Ministry, Aman Ahluwalia, opposed the proposal for a single test by integrating the All-India Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Examination (AIPMT) and the All-India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE), a two-judge Bench asked him to file a proper affidavit.

At the resumed hearing on Friday, the Ministry filed an affidavit expressing practical difficulties in holding such a test. Mr. Ahluwalia explained the logistics problems in conducting a single test and subsequent counselling.

However, senior counsel Altaf Ahmed, appearing for the CBSE, said that at a joint meeting held to discuss the issue, representatives of the Human Resource Development and Health Ministries, the Medical Council of India and others agreed to the proposal to integrate the AIPMT and the AIEEE.

Justice R.V. Raveendran asked Mr. Ahluwalia how the Health Ministry could go back on its word. “Your objection appears to be technical as you [the Ministry] had clearly mentioned in your affidavit that you shared the concern and commitment of the CBSE to ensure that the examination system is designed in a manner in which it maximises the choices afforded to candidates and minimises stress, expenses and inconvenience. If that is so, the Ministry must reconsider its objections within two weeks and convey its decision.”

Justice A.K. Patnaik told counsel that the difficulties in holding a combined entrance examination were not insurmountable.

Poser to Tamil Nadu
When counsel Harish Kumar, appearing for Tamil Nadu, said the State was opposing the combined CET, Justice Raveendran said: “You can't oppose everything. This is for the all-India quota. In what way are you affected merely because you have a law abolishing the CET?”

In its affidavit, the Health Ministry said that “on a careful consideration, it is not, at this stage, in favour of an integrated entrance examination for the medical and engineering streams.” While it shared the CBSE's concern to have a CET, the issue had to be deliberated upon before a final decision was taken. “Even if it is considered desirable to maximise the choice for candidates, the proposed amalgamation would present certain practical and logistical difficulties in the counselling process. Candidates eligible to appear for both medical and engineering examinations may eventually secure a place on both merit lists, thus posing a problem in allotment of and counselling for the seats,” the affidavit said.

The Bench posted the matter for further hearing after two weeks.