Subramanian Swamy asks PM Modi to postpone NEET and JEE examinations

Subramanian Swamy, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, in view of examinations, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to postpone the NEET and JEE examinations, along with other competitive examinations.

I have just spoken to the Minister of Education suggesting that NEET and other exams be conducted after Deepavali. The SC order the other day is not a bar since the Hon’ble Court has left the date to the government. I am sending an urgent letter to the PM just now.

— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) August 21, 2020

Swamy, writing to Prime Minister Modi, has appealed for the students asking him to postpone the examinations till Diwali at least. Speaking about the coronavirus pandemic, the Rajya Sabha member has stated that there is widespread desperation amongst the youth at the moment, and pushing examinations on them during this moment of crisis could lead to a “large number of suicides”

The BJP leader has asserted that Ramesh Pokhriyal, the HRD Minister has been sympathetic to his suggestion, however, only the nod from the Prime Minister could help the postponing of examinations seem probable, which is why he has written a letter directly to the Prime Minister.

Earlier on August 17, the Supreme Court stated that the NEET medical entrance exam and the Joint Entrance Exam for the admission into the IITs will be held as per schedule. This came after the apex court dismissed a petition filed by 11 students to defer the examinations in view of the pandemic. 

The plea sought the postponement of the NEET and JEE Main examinations in September and urged to conduct it at a later date when the coronavirus outbreak would be plateauing in the country. Another plea had sought the NTA authorities to increase the number of examination centres in the country as well, to fulfil the social distancing guidelines.

Meanwhile, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, on behalf of NTA, had responded stating that all of the safety precautions will be taken while holding the examination keeping in mind the safety of the students with regards to the coronavirus