Why opposed to common entrance test: Supreme Court to health ministry
By IANSFriday, October 29, 2010
NEW DELHI - Asking the union health ministry why it was opposed to the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) plan to hold a common entrance test for engineering, medical and dental courses in the country, the Supreme Court Friday directed it to put its objections in writing.
The apex court bench of Justice R.V. Raveendran and Justice A.K. Patnaik issued notice on the CBSEs application seeking the courts permission to hold an integrated Common Entrance Test (CET) from 2011-12.
When senior counsel for the union health ministry opposed the human resource development ministrys proposal pleading certain difficulties in holding such an examination, the court asked: Is it genuine difficulty or a departmental fight between two ministries?”
Appearing for the CBSE, senior counsel Altaf Ahmed submitted that the CET would help the students in taking a single examination.
At this, the court asked the senior counsel about the procedure that the CBSE would follow in giving admission to the students who would succeed in the CET.
Altaf Ahmed told the court that there will be separate merit lists for the medical and engineering students. After counselling of the successful students, they will be allotted courses and colleges.
The court was told that time and again in the CBSE governing body it was said that the All India Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental Entrance Examination and All India Engineering Entrance Examination, which are conducted by the Board, should be integrated and a CET held in the larger interest of students.
When counsel for the health ministry opposed the proposal, Justice Raveendran asked: If it is really in the interest of the students why are you opposing it?
The court asked the health ministry to put its objections in writing.
