"Both of you get boxing gloves:" Madras High Court agrees to hear all seeking to be impleaded in challenge to TN Committee studying NEET impact

Observing that it is a matter of some importance, the Madras High Court on Monday agreed to hear various parties seeking to be impleaded in the petition challenging the Tamil Nadu government's constitution of a nine-member committee to study the impact of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions on socially backward students (K Nagarajan v. Union of India and ors)..The Bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy assured that these parties would be heard on merits, although they may not be formally impleaded in the case.." ... since the matter is of some importance, from political parties to pressure groups to citizens having experience in the field, there are several persons who want to have a say. All applicants who have filed impleadment applications will be heard on the merits of the matter", stated the order..The brief hearing in the case today also saw politically-tinted arguments being exchanged by opposing counsel..Appearing for the petitioner - State General Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Karu Nagarajan - today, Advocate V Raghavachari argued that it has become a political game which must be put to an end..Representing an aggrieved student, Senior Advocate P Wilson responded that the petitioner (representing the BJP) has already been shown his place by the people of Tamil Nadu, adding that the Court should also "show him his place.""He kept quiet when the government constituted the Justice Kalaiyarasan Committee because he was in alliance with the AIADMK then. This is nothing new. Such committees have been constituted earlier," Wilson argued. ."There is nothing new. All this has been considered and rejected by Supreme Court," Raghavachari countered. ."This is an ideology clash in Tamil Nadu, no public interest at all," Wilson argued further. .Raghavachari responded by asserting, "I am concerned about legality and not ideology.".Chief Justice Banerjee intervened to diffuse the tension amid the heated arguments, quipping sarcastically,"So good to hear all of you speaking together.".Advocate Raghavachari in turn suggested that these issues can be taken up when the matter is heard next. Expressing agreement, Chief Justice Banerjee added, "Both of you get size 16 boxing gloves.".The case has been adjourned until next week, to be taken up on Tuesday for a detailed hearing in the post-lunch session. .Whereas the Court had initially said it can be slotted for hearing on July 12, Monday at 2:15, it was informed that another Full Bench case has already been listed for that time. As such, the Court posted the matter on the following day, on July 13..Among those seeking to be impleaded in the matter are the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) , the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kalagam (MDMK) and an aggrieved student. ."Politically motivated:" DMK moves Madras High Court opposing BJP leader's PIL against Tamil Nadu Committee to study impact of NEET .The Court had issued notice last week in the plea moved K Nagarajan challenging the committee's constitution, on the ground that it goes against the Supreme Court's judgment on the issue, whereby it had ordered that all States should implement NEET.."You obtain leave of Supreme Court, else this should stop:" Madras High Court on Tamil Nadu decision to assess NEET impact on socially deprived.The Court took on record today that the State is ready to proceed with the hearing. The Union of India informed that its counter affidavit in the matter would reach the Court in a few days. The Court has directed that the same should be done by July 8. It has also granted the impleadment applicants to obtain copies of counter affidavits by approaching the relevant lawyers for the respondents via email..[Read Order]