The Vellore-based Christian Medical College's (CMC) decision to suspend new admissions for 2017-18 on the ground that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) marks alone could not be the criteria to get admitted has evoked contrasting reactions.

Welcoming CMC's decision, PMK founder S.Ramadoss in a statement said the explanation given by the college for suspending admission is justifiable and is equally applicable for all medical colleges in the country.According to reports, CMC has said its admission process comprises of aptitude test, commitment to serve in rural areas and social service and these aspects are not revealed in the marks secured by a medical college seat aspirant in the NEET.The CMC is objecting to government's decision to base admission to MBBS course based on NEET marks and nothing else.

The college, which admits 100 students for MBBS course and 62 in super specialities per year, has filed a case and the judgement on that is expected this year from the apex court.On the other hand the Doctors' Association for Social Equality (DASE) has opposed the manner of CMC's protest.In a statement issued here, DASE General Secretary G.R.Ravindranath said the CMC's decision not to admit students on NEET basis is unacceptable as it has to abide by the law."If it wants to fight for its rights, in admission process as a minority institution, it must get a legal remedy. It has the right to stop admissions, but its decision to stop admissions is not a better method of protest," he said.

"As a developing country, we need more UG (undergraduate) doctors and super speciality doctors also. At this juncture stopping admissions to these courses is a great loss to the health care delivery system of India," he added.Requesting CMC to reconsider its decision, Ravindranath said DASE has been very clear from the beginning that NEET should be exempted for state government controlled medical seats only and no private institution, including CMC should be allowed to admit students directly."Even if the admission process is good in Vellore CMC, we cannot accept its method of fighting for its rights as a minority institution. It may admit students in a good and fair method but we cannot expect other minority institutions will follow the same," Ravindranath said.