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The Bill aims to exempt the state from NEET and reinstate medical admissions based on Class 12 scores, supported by a scientific normalisation process.
Tamil Nadu’s case relies on findings of the Justice AK Rajan Committee, which studied NEET’s impact in the State.(Representative image)
The Tamil Nadu government has approached the Supreme Court to challenge the President of India’s decision to withhold assent to the Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Medical Degree Courses Bill, 2021. The Bill seeks to exempt the state from NEET and to base medical admissions on Class 12 scores, using a scientific normalisation process, according to ANI. The Governor’s Secretariat informed the State of the President’s decision on March 4, 2025.
Tamil Nadu argues that this move is unconstitutional and violates the legislative relations between the Union and the States. The suit claims that the President rejected the Bill mechanically, following the Union Government’s advice without giving reasons, despite Tamil Nadu’s detailed responses to objections from the Ministries of Health, Education, and AYUSH.
The State argues that such refusal to assent undermines Article 201 and negates the purpose of Article 254(2), which permits State laws on concurrent subjects to take precedence locally after obtaining Presidential approval. The State warns that if this is permitted, it would render a vital constitutional mechanism meaningless, which allows States to diverge from central legislation in specific circumstances.
“If such withholding is upheld, the constitutional avenue available to states to enact laws that differ from Union legislation will become meaningless,” it stated.
Tamil Nadu’s case relies on findings of the Justice AK Rajan Committeewhich studied NEET’s impact in the State. The Committee concluded that NEET disproportionately harms students from rural, economically weaker, Tamil-medium, and government-school backgrounds.
The exam advantages wealthier urban candidates who can afford extensive coaching, thereby violating equality guarantees under Articles 14 and 15(4) and excluding first-generation learners. The complaint also addresses the expensive coaching industry and issues such as impersonation and alleged question-paper leaks, questioning the test’s credibility.
Tamil Nadu seeks a declaration that the President’s action is unconstitutional and requests that the Bill be considered to have received assent under Article 254(2). Alternatively, it asks the Court to direct the Union Government to resubmit the Bill for the President’s fresh consideration.
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November 16, 2025, 1:54 PM IST
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