Tamil Nadu has petitioned the Supreme Court, challenging the President of India’s decision. The President withheld assent for the Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Medical Degree Courses Bill, 2021. The bill, passed unanimously by the state legislative assembly, was blocked on March 4, 2025 , without stated reason.
The 2021 bill proposes using Class 12 marks for medical admissions in Tamil Nadu. It includes mark normalization across different education boards. This system would replace the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) as the sole admission criterion.
The state’s petition raises several constitutional issues. It questions legislative autonomy, constitutional federalism, and the scope of Articles 201 and 254(2). Tamil Nadu highlights its duty under Article 47 to protect public health. This includes ensuring equitable access to medical education.
Tamil Nadu’s Stance on NEET
Tamil Nadu previously based medical admissions on Class 12 board marks. This followed the abolition of the Common Entrance Test (CET) in 2007. The Tamil Nadu Admissions in Professional Educational Institutions Act, 2006, received presidential assent. It remained in force for a decade. The state claims this system provided fair access to medical education for rural and socio-economically disadvantaged students.
NEET became mandatory for national admissions in 2017 . Tamil Nadu argues NEET favors repeat candidates. It benefits those who can afford private coaching. The state argues NEET disadvantages first-generation learners. It impacts students from government schools or Tamil-medium education.
NEET Impact Findings in Tamil Nadu
Justice (Retired) AK Rajan chaired a committee to study NEET’s impact within Tamil Nadu. The committee received over 80,000 responses. Its report concluded NEET reduces access for disadvantaged students. It benefits students from urban backgrounds with coaching access.
The committee found NEET-based admissions shifted the system. It now favors affluent, urban, CBSE-educated students who access private coaching. The system excludes underprivileged students. These include those from government schools, Tamil-medium education, rural backgrounds, and backward classes.
Supreme Court Requests
Tamil Nadu asks the Supreme Court to declare the President’s withholding of assent unconstitutional and illegal.
- The state also seeks an order deeming the bill to have received presidential assent under Article 254(2) of the Constitution.
- It requests the court to direct the President to reconsider the bill for assent under Articles 201 and 254(2).
- The petition asks for any additional orders the court deems necessary.
The state cites Supreme Court judgments, including Neil Aurelio Nunes v. Union of India (2022) and Pradeep Jain vs Union of India (1984). These cases argue merit cannot be solely based on exam marks. Social background, opportunity, and public health considerations must also be factors.