An all-party meeting convened by the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Wednesday evening unanimously resolved to file a fresh petition in the Supreme Court if necessary, against the Centre’s refusal to grant assent to the Bill seeking to exempt Tamil Nadu from the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).

The resolution, proposed by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who chaired the meeting at the State Secretariat, was passed with full consensus among the participating parties. However, the meeting was boycotted by the main opposition parties, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Following the President’s refusal to approve the Bill that was passed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, the meeting reinforced the decision to continue the legal battle for the state’s exemption from NEET. It was resolved that apart from expediting the case filed by the Tamil Nadu government in the Supreme Court in July 2023, a fresh petition could be filed against the Centre’s denial of assent to the Bill after consulting legal experts.

The Tamil Nadu government has been steadfast in its opposition to NEET, arguing that the examination disadvantages students from rural and economically weaker backgrounds. The legal and political battle over the NEET exemption continues to be a significant issue in the state’s educational and political landscape.