Confusion prevails over the next course of action with regard to the MBBS counselling in the state following the verdict of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court adding marks to the students in NEET paper.
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Chennai:
While the court order on Tuesday mandates that all candidates who wrote the NEET in Tamil should be given 196 grace marks, the state is confused as to what is to become of the first phase of counselling that came to an end on Saturday. It may be recalled that owing to the translation of question papers from English to Tamil, a number of errors were found.
“Nearly 49 questions had mistakes due to translation and if calculated, students must be awarded 196 marks for the questions,” the verdict stated. Stating that they are yet to get a copy of the judgment, a health official said, “We are not in the position to comment on this. We are yet to get a response from the CBSE and are not sure if they will even contest the judgment.”
“We are awaiting the detailed judgment copy and since the exams and marks were within the purview of the CBSE, we will go as per what CBSE decides,” he added.
However, organisations like Tech for All, which have been coaching students for NEET, demanded that the counselling be reconducted.
“The verdict to grant 196 grace marks to students is welcomed. However, based on the new marks, the rank list should be changed and counselling be reconducted. This change in marks will also cause a change in the All India rank list too,” said Ram Prakash of the organisation.
“It was even mentioned, at the time of counselling that it is subject to court orders. The government officials should therefore work out the process accordingly. However, our main request to the government is that they put pressure on the Medical Council of India (MCI) to increase the number of seats to ensure that more eligible students are accommodated, instead of this verdict resulting in more chaos,” he added.
CPM, DK, Congress hail verdict
The CPM, Congress and Dravidar Kazhagam on Tuesday welcomed the verdict of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court directing the CBSE to grant 196 marks for the 49 wrong questions in the paper given for candidates who took up the examination in Tamil. In a resolution, the Left party noted that the order followed a petition by CPM central committee member TK Rangarajan and justice had been delivered to the students. Those students who benefit from the judgment should be allocated additional seats in medical colleges, the resolution said. DK president K Veeramani, in a statement here said the CBSE should not ignore the humanitarian judgment and go for an appeal against it. The additional marks are justified and it could not be termed ‘grace marks,’ he said. Further, TNCC chief Su Thirunavukkarasar speaking to reporters in Madurai welcomed the High Court’s verdict on NEET marks.