Karnataka HC proposed non-NEET candidates for admission to AYUSH courses

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 13: The High Court of Karnataka has ordered the State government to conduct the admission process for AYUSH courses before October 25. The authorities concerned are directed to publish a notice on or before October 15 inviting all the NEET qualified candidates seeking admission to AYUSH courses in various institutions available across the state.

The high court order has come in the wake of non-availability of NEET qualified candidates. With regard to this, the court has suggested that non-NEET candidates can also be considered for admission to AYUSH courses.

The colleges are asked to prepare a merit list including those candidates who have not taken NEET 2018 but possess minimum qualification to take admission to AYUSH courses. The admission of such candidates should be mandatorily taken on the basis of merit. Although, the final order is yet to be taken by the Karnataka High Court on the admission of candidates who have not qualified NEET.

The interim order of the High Court bench comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and Sreenivas Harish Kumar is in opposition to the Ministry of AYUSH order published on February 12 which made NEET compulsory for AYUSH courses as well. The petition to seek court’s permission to admit non-NEET candidates was filed by Karnataka State AYUSH Medical Colleges Federation and various other institutions offering AYUSH courses.

The colleges have been asked to furnish the merit list of non-NEET candidates and complete the admission process by October 31. The second round of counselling for AYUSH courses is over and going by the reports there are still 60% of the seats left vacant.

The court also pointed out that the information bulletin of NEET 2018 released by CBSE does not specify that NEET is mandatory for AYUSH courses. The point 12 of the brochure says, “The result of the NEET (UG) may be utilized by other entities of Central/State Governments for admission purpose in accordance with their rules.” This was also quoted in the February 12 order and the state authorities were directed to publish notices regarding the requirement of qualifying for AYUSH courses. The petitioners’ argued that there was a lot of confusion among students on whether they are required to appear for NEET or not as this was not the case last year. The institution concerned were also informed in April that NEET has been made mandatory. Till last year, the state conducted a common entrance test for admission to AYUSH courses.