By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, February 4, 2017 : Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday dashed off a letter to union health minister Jagat Prakash Nadda seeking his intervention to remove the restriction on number of attempts for National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG).

“It is surprising to note that before taking such an important decision, which will decide the future of a large number of students, the views of the State Government have not been sought for”, Naveen said in his letter.

Patnaik made it clear that such restriction would deprive many from pursing medical science. “We are of view that such a restriction imposed on the eligibility criteria for seeking admission to pursue higher education through competitive examination undermines the right of the student community, especially those belonging to the weaker sections of the society. Such a restriction will deprive a huge number of students from pursing medical and dental courses leading to widespread resentment amongst them”, the letter read.

“I would, therefore, seek your personal intervention in the matter for removing the above mentioned restriction pertaining to the number of attempts through the above mentioned restriction pertaining to the number of attempts through NEET-UG in the larger interest of the student community”, the CM said in the letter.

The Centre on Friday had clarified that the three maximum times that a student can attempt for National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (UG) examinations for admissions to medical and dental colleges across the country will be counted from now and NEET 2017 would be counted as the first attempt.

It was prescribed that the candidates who have already availed permissible three attempts will not be able to apply for NEET-2017. Department of Health and Family Welfare has communicated that Medical Council of India (MCI) has clarified that the attempts made by candidates for AIPMT/NEET prior to 2017 should not be counted and accordingly appearance in NEET-2017 will be counted as first attempt for all the candidates, irrespective of their previous attempts in AIPMT/NEET, the HRD ministry had said in a statement.

The CBSE had on January 31 announced NEET (UG), 2017 examinations on May 7, 2017 for admissions for all the seats of MBBS and BDS courses across the country. It had stated that “there shall be three attempts available uniformly for all the candidates in NEET examination,” which has now been amended and notified.