"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 Madras High Court on Tuesday issued notice in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition challenging the Tamil Nadu government's move to constitute 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 plea was moved by the General Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Tamil Nadu, Karu Nagarajan. .The petitioner contended that the constitution of the nine-member Committee headed by retired High Court Judge, Justice AK Rajan is "arbitrary, illegal, unconstitutional and unreasonable", given the Supreme Court's 2017 order in Kaaviyaa Nakkiran, Represented By Her Father Mr. R. Nakkiran and Ors. v. The State Of Tamil Nadu..The petition highlighted that the Supreme Court, in Kaaviyaa Nakkiran's case, had directed the Tamil Nadu government to implement NEET, confirming that it is not open to the State Government to suggest an alternative..Appearing for the petitioner, Advocate V Raghavachari argued that by this order, the Supreme Court had emphasized that all States have to accept NEET and that Tamil Nadu cannot resonate a different voice. .During the hearing, Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee orally observed that since the Supreme Court has issued such positive directions for the implementation of NEET, it is completely futile to set up a committee to study the impact of NEET. ."It is completely futile to set up committee ... you obtain leave of Supreme Court, otherwise this exercise should stop," the Chief Justice said. .Appearing for the State government, Advocate General R Shunmugasundaram assured that the State will respond in the matter and sought some time to do so. ."This is a policy decision backed by manifesto and people's demand," he submitted further..The Bench of Chief Justice Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy, therefore, granted a week's time for the State to respond. A copy of the petition was also directed to be served on the Additional Solicitor General's office, so that the Union may also indicate its stance on the issue. .In its interim order, the Court took on record the petitioner's contention that after the Supreme Court's August 22, 2017 order that "The State of Tamil Ndau shall not make any distinction or discrimination between the exams conducted by various boards and admission shall be effected as per results of NEET”, there can be little room for the State to set up any committee to ascertain if the NEET-based admission process has prejudicially affected socially backward students..The petitioner has pointed out that any recommendation made by the Committee cannot be implemented in light of the view taken by the Supreme Court on NEET..The matter will be taken up next on Monday. .[Read Order]