Five senior AIADMK ministers called on Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Tuesday seeking his early assent for the legislation that was passed by the state govt providing a 7.5% reservation to government school students who clear NEET for medical course admissions. While addressing the media, Minister Jayakumar said, “We cannot force the Governor to make a decision, so we visited him and explained that in a welfare state like Tamil Nadu, reservation is important for the government school students to secure medical seats.”
He added that the Governor has assured that a good decision will be taken at the earliest. Meanwhile, academics in the state say that introducing the 7.5% reservation exclusively for the government students will help them immensely, and this year alone, more than 500 students will have an opportunity to get seats in the colleges, otherwise students only in single-digit will be eligible for medical seats. A Group of pro-Tamil organisations and Periyarist organisations who met the press on Tuesday questioned the delay by the Governor in giving his assent for the quota bill. They also informed that their forum will be introducing a state flag on 1st November. Earlier, a counsel of Tamil Nadu government had informed Madras High Court that counselling for medical course admissions will begin only after the Governor takes a decision on the reservation.
The meeting lasted for more than an hour at the Raj Bhavan. The delegation that met the Governor consisted of School Education minister K.A. Sengottaiyan, Law Minister C.V Shanmugam, Fisheries minister D Jayakumar, Higher Secondary education Minister KP Anbazhagan and Health minister C Vijayabhaskar
The Bill passed unanimously by the state Assembly provides for 7.5 per cent reservation for students of government schools in medical college admissions and was sent to the Governor for his assent. The Governor is yet to take a decision on the Bill.
The Tamil Nadu government has decided not to proceed with the admission process for medical colleges till the Governor takes a decision on the Bill.