Chennai: Hundreds of students from Tamil Nadu will be forced to travel to Kerala to sit for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) on May 6 after the Supreme Court accepted the CBSE’s plea that exam centres cannot be changed at such short notice.
The Madras High Court had on April 27 asked CBSE to ensure that students be given exam centres in Tamil Nadu, but CSBE had moved an appeal in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court directed the CBSE to ensure that the same doesn’t happen from next year.
The petitioner representing the students in the case told CNN-News 18 that only Tamil Nadu students have been given centres in other states.
Advocate P Guruswami said between 1,000 and 1,500 students will have to travel to Ernakulum and other centres in Kerala. “Similar type of complaint was also made in Maharashtra but students were given centres in their own state, but at a faraway place. So it’s very difficult for the students to appear in NEET examination,” he said.
The petitioner also blamed the CBSE for not following the Madras High Court’s April 27 directive. “When the order was passed on April 27, there were more than 10 days for the CBSE to re-allot centres for such students. They only needed five days for sending admit card with the hall ticket and students had to download the new one from the website. They delayed it and now tells the apex court that there is no time for re-alloting centres,” Guruswami added.
The petitioner urged the state government to provide special buses for students who are appearing for NEET in other states free of cost. But the education minister said this could be done only from next year as there is no time for special arrangements now.
Bharati Sri, Tirunelveli student appearing for the NEET said it is devastating news, especially for the underprivileged students. “This is the most crucial time which demands all our concentration on the exam but now we have to worry about travelling to a different state,” she said.
“Every year they come up with something or the other to make sure Tamil Nadu students aren't performing at their best. I hope at least my juniors get a fair chance,” she added.
Another student, Ashwini, said: “I have to travel seven hours just to write an exam and it is only possible if I leave a day earlier. Now, I have to worry about the stay which should be preferably near my centre.”
“Initially they gave a choice to select the centre, but later they ignored all our preferences. Travel, transport, language, money are the things which are worrying me now and I couldn't concentrate on studying. This process is especially harder for the underprivileged kids,” said Padmani Priya.
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