With regard to the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) issue, the Health Ministry and the Medical Council of India (MCI) have been asked by the Supreme Court to respond to the state governments' plea to hold separate exams for admission in medical courses by May 5.

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The apex court had heard the petitions by some states and private medical colleges which sought permission to continue the separate tests for admission in MBBS and BDS courses.

Senior lawyer Gopal Subramaniam, appearing for Jammu and Kashmir said that the entrance test being held by the state administration be allowed to go on as per schedule on the ground that it has been granted a special status.

KK Venugopal, who represented some private medical colleges of Karnataka, made similar pleas that the pre-scheduled entrance test may be permitted to go on alongside the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET).

A three member panel was set up on Monday to oversee the functioning of the MCI with regard to the NEET. The panel will be headed by former CJI RM  Lodha. 

Next Monday, a bench headed by Anil R Dave will give the hearing on the matter.

The apex court had on April 29, said that the entrance test for admission to MBBS and BDS courses for the academic year 2016-17 will be held as per the schedule through the two-phased common entrance test NEET on May 1 and July 24.

On April 28, the court had rejected opposition for holding NEET by states, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Association of Karnataka Medical Colleges, besides minority institutions like CMC, Vellore.

It had also revived the government's December 21, 2010 notification for holding a single common entrance test through NEET with a clarification that any challenge on the issue would directly come before it and no high court can interfere.

With agency inputs.