Petition favouring CET to be filed in SC soon

MUMBAI, June 13: Even as the Common Entrance Test (CET) for admission to MBBS and BDS courses continues to draw widespread flak, a group of ...

MUMBAI, June 13: Even as the Common Entrance Test (CET) for admission to MBBS and BDS courses continues to draw widespread flak, a group of citizens led by an Air-India employee has come all out in support of the test.

The group has written to Chief Minister Manohar Joshi, Health Minister Daulat Aher and Medical Education Secretary TC Benjamin expressing support for the CET. It has also decided to file a petition in the Supreme Court (SC) in favour of CET.

The letter reads: “Presently, a dispute is going on regarding the CET. A group of about 200 parents have moved the Supreme Court against the State Government’s move to hold the CET. However, under the present circumstances, we strongly feel that the CET must be held for the sake of equal opportunity to all.’ Those who want to join the campaign can contact Bharat Bhandare on telephone no: 850 1424, Dr Mahendra Kamat on telephone no: 893 5417 and Dr Umesh Thakur on phone no: 836 7399.” The SC, in a recent judgment, had directed the State Government toconduct the CET. The State had filed a review petition requesting a stay on the CET but the SC refused to entertain it.

The State had contended that it was not prepared to conduct the CET and should be given a year for the preparations.

A group of 25 MPs from the State had recently met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, requesting him to cancel the CET.

No eligibility cut-off marks fixedd for CET

Contrary to recent reports in a section of the Press, any student passing the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination is entitled to appear for the CET.

Earlier, the State Government had announced that students from open category securing 50 per cent marks and those from reserved categories securing 40 per cent in the HSC alone would be able to appear for the CET. Considering the confusion regarding the test, the Government recently relaxed the norms.

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However, to figure in merit list an open category student has to secure 50 per cent marks and a reserved category student 40 per centmarks in the CET. In a related move, Chief Minister Manohar Joshi, Deputy CM Gopinath Munde, Health Minister Daulat Aher, and Minister of State for Health Vijaykumar Gavit are to address a public meeting on June 18 at Mantralaya.