Lok Sabha Debates
Proposal To Conduct All India Common Entrance Examinations For The Medicine, ... on 19 August, 2010
> Title: Proposal to conduct All India Common Entrance Examinations for the medicine, Engineering and other courses.
DR. M. THAMBIDURAI (KARUR): Madam Speaker thank you very much for giving me an opportunity for raising an important issue.
The decision of the Central Government affects the rights of the State Governments and also the people of the States.
Recently, the Press has reported that the Ministry of Health as well as the Ministry of Human Resources Development decided that they are going to conduct All India Common Entrance Examinations for the medicine, engineering and other courses.
Madam, Education may be in the Concurrent List, but the professional courses are meant for the needs of the local people of the States. We require a lot of doctors and engineers. The State Governments are planning and building the medical and engineering colleges to cater to the needs of the States. Now, in the name of conducting Common Entrance Examination and also in the name of Education having in the Concurrent List, the Central Government has taken this decision. In this connection, my Leader, hon. Amma Dr. J. Jayalalithaa, has given a statement yesterday opposing the decision taken by the Central Government to conduct the All India Common Entrance Examination for the professional courses.
Madam, she raised five issues. First of all, she raised the issue of reservation policy. Tamil Nadu is following the reservation of 69 per cent from Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. MGR period onwards. Now, if the Central Government decides about conducting Common Entrance Examination, then we have to follow 50 per cent reservation. Madam, hon. Dr. J Jayalalithaa, the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu passed a Resolution in the Tamil Nadu Assembly to protect the 69 per cent reservation and she brought the Bill here and with the help of the Parliament, she got it included in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.
Madam, I have three issues. The Supreme Court also upheld the decision of the 69 per cent reservation. Now, because of the Common Entrance Examination, it will affect common people.
Madam, the Central Government is unnecessarily interfering in the rights of the State Governments. That has to be protected. Now, there is no Entrance Examination for the professional courses in Tamil Nadu. We are following the admission procedures based on the students’ performance in the plus two examination. If the Central Government keeps the Common Entrance Examination, then we cannot give importance to the students’ performance in the plus two examination. This issue was also raised by my leader in her statement. Therefore, it also affects the rural students who have to appear in the Common Entrance Examination.
Madam, the students have to give the test either in Hindi or in English language. But in my State, most of the students are staying in the rural areas and they are studying plus two examination in the Tamil medium. How can they write the Common Entrance Examination either in Hindi or in English? It will be disadvantageous to poor rural students.
Therefore, we are urging the Central Government to roll back the decision regarding conducting All India Common Entrance Examination for Medicines and Engineering which affects our common people. … (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER: Please conclude. Your time is over.
DR. M. THAMBIDURAI : Madam let the Government respond. … (Interruptions)
*m0 2DR. RAM CHANDRA DOME (BOLPUR): Madam, it is a very important issue. I would like to associate with him.
MADAM SPEAKER: You please send your name to the Table.
DR. M. THAMBIDURAI: In the name of conducting the Common Entrance Examination, the Central Government has taken away the rights of the State Governments. We cannot tolerate that. So, let the Government respond to protect the rights of the students of the rural areas. Again, reservation policy is also very important. The State Government is all for it. Our Madam Jayalalithaa is fighting for the reservation policy for the people of Tamil Nadu.. … (Interruptions)
SHRI M.B. RAJESH : Madam, I would like to associate with him.
MADAM SPEAKER: Dr. Ram Chandra Dome and Shri M.B. Rajesh are allowed to be associated with this matter.