The Tamil Nadu government has taken a significant step by filing a petition in the Supreme Court against the President of India's refusal to grant assent to the Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Medical Degree Courses Bill, 2021. This bill aims to exempt the state from conducting medical admissions through the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).

The petition, filed on November 15, 2025, argues that the President's denial has created a "grave constitutional impasse". The state has requested the Supreme Court to declare the refusal unconstitutional and to treat the bill as having received assent under Article 254(2) of the Constitution.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly had unanimously passed the bill, which was then sent to the President for approval. Despite the state addressing various objections raised by the Union Ministries, the assent was denied without any explanation, as communicated through the Governor's secretariat on March 4, 2025.

In its petition, Tamil Nadu highlighted that NEET has disproportionately affected students from rural and underprivileged backgrounds, who often lack access to expensive coaching. The state argued that the examination system favours affluent, urban students, thereby excluding many deserving candidates.

Historically, Tamil Nadu has implemented its own admission processes, such as the Common Entrance Test (CET), which was designed to reflect the state's social realities. The state contends that the imposition of NEET has disrupted this balance since 2017. A study conducted in 2021 indicated that a majority of stakeholders in Tamil Nadu support the abolition of NEET.

The petition raises important constitutional questions regarding the limits of gubernatorial power and the relationship between state and central laws. It also invokes Article 47, emphasizing the state's responsibility to ensure equitable access to medical education and protect public health.

As the Supreme Court prepares to hear the case, the outcome could have significant implications for medical admissions in Tamil Nadu and the ongoing debate surrounding NEET.