Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is scheduled to lead a crucial high-level meeting to devise legal strategies to seek exemption for the state from the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). The meeting, which will be attended by top legal experts, senior bureaucrats, and education department officials, reflects the state government’s continued opposition to the centralized medical entrance examination.
The DMK-led Tamil Nadu government has consistently maintained that NEET is discriminatory and has disadvantaged students from rural and economically weaker backgrounds. CM Stalin has repeatedly stated that the exam goes against the principles of social justice, disproportionately affecting students from state board schools who are unable to afford specialized coaching.
This meeting is expected to focus on exploring all possible legal measures and constitutional options to exempt Tamil Nadu from NEET and allow medical college admissions based on Class 12 marks, as was the practice before NEET was implemented. The government has already passed a resolution in the state assembly seeking exemption from NEET, which awaits approval from the President of India.
The meeting also comes in the backdrop of recent student suicides reportedly linked to exam stress due to NEET, further intensifying public concern and political pressure. The government is likely to consider presenting fresh legal arguments to highlight the impact of NEET on students' mental health and access to education.
Legal experts participating in the meeting are expected to revisit previous legal opinions and Supreme Court judgments while drafting a strategy that could include a petition or request for reconsideration by the Union government.
The Tamil Nadu government’s steadfast stance is part of a broader push to regain autonomy in educational admissions and implement student-friendly reforms. The outcome of the meeting could determine the next phase of Tamil Nadu’s battle against NEET.
